Apple Time Capsule ?

Posted by: kev 1966 on 23 November 2009

Hi,

Is anybody using a Apple time capsule, i'm dipping my toe in the darkside. I have purchased a Minimac and Iomega minimax harddrive, but have been offered a new 1 TB time capsule at very sensible price.

I suppose the question is it worth it?

KR

Kev
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by garyi
Well yes its a very capable gigabit router and Wireless N interface.

The drive in it is fine until it goes wrong making it all very disappointing. Basically an airport extreme does it all plus you can plug a harddrive into it so when that drive goes tits you just plug another drive in.
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by BigH47
I have one, it goes orange(light) every now and then.
Is it worth it? Is it worth having the opportunity to get back some loss files?
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by kev 1966
Gary,

Thanks thats good advice, it also means i can use my existing Minimax hard drive, would it worth duplicating the drive ?

Howard,

I intend to back up the files its just the reliability of the time capsule has been questioned

Kev
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by garyi
There has been a couple of cases of the drives going wrong but I would not for one minute say they are unreliable.

But the combination of wireless router and harddrive does not make a lot of sense to me. Getting in them is a pain so when the drive fails you are are going to have that hassle, and whilst that hassles is occurring you have no network.

Where as an extreme separates the drive from the router (to be fair you can connect and external harddrive to an timecapsule as well so if its going for silly cheap then may as well buy it.
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by garyi
One other thing there are 1tb time capsules on ebay from the states for 150 quid with delivery, so cheap deals are around make sure the one you are being offered actually is a super deal.
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by kev 1966
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
One other thing there are 1tb time capsules on ebay from the states for 150 quid with delivery, so cheap deals are around make sure the one you are being offered actually is a super deal.


Hi Gary,

Yes thanks for advice, deal seems reasonable based on your information £120,00 new sealed (frustrated order)

Extreme seems the same sort of money
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by garyi
At that price I would but one. As i say if the drive did go bad you could just plug another drive into the usb slot, or break into it and replace it. As its cheaper than an extreme anyhow its a no brainer.
Posted on: 23 November 2009 by garyi
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
At that price I would buy one. As i say if the drive did go bad you could just plug another drive into the usb slot, or break into it and replace it. As its cheaper than an extreme anyhow its a no brainer.
Posted on: 24 November 2009 by gone
My experience with the Time Capsule seems good so far. I needed to update the wireless bit of my router as well as having the need for a good backup device, that I could also use for music later.
Setting it all up to stream to an HDX via an Express was pretty easy, and having an extra Guest setting for wireless is useful for when the kids come round with their laptops.
Only downside seems to be that it gets very hot, so it has its own space with nothing on top. I suspect this is something to do with the HDX, as it runs a lot cooler when the HDX is in standby - anyone else any experience of this?
Posted on: 24 November 2009 by garyi
Its a typical apple device, hot items such as a harddrive in an enclosure with no fan, the apple tv is the same, harddrive and power supply in that one.
Posted on: 24 November 2009 by winkyincanada
I use one and would recommend it as a no-fuss solution. Expensive when new compared to some other solutions, but if you get it for a good price, go for it. The router is very good and totally painless to set up. I use the TC to back-up three macs, all by Time Machine.

It does get warm when in use, but it is not a big issue. Give it a bit of space to breath and you'll be fine. Standing it on its edge will also help as convection currents can then flow across the large surfaces more readily.
Posted on: 25 November 2009 by kev 1966
Hi All,

Not sure if I've done the right thing but walked out the shop with a new Airpor Extreme today for a bagain price ! But now home should I have bought the time capsule as well !!

To many choices

Kevin
Posted on: 25 November 2009 by garyi
no the extreme will act as a fine 'time capsule' all by itself.

Firstly launch airport utlity from the utlities folder and set up your airport. If you have an ADSL modem on the line then you just hook this up via ethernet to the socket on the airport and the airport now distributes this around yer network via gigabit ethernet and wireless N.

There is a USB socket, plug a USB harddrive into this and bang is yer uncle etc, there is your time capsule.
Posted on: 25 November 2009 by kev 1966
Gary,

prob a silly question, but I have one of the BT black new wireless hubs. Can I not just set up the extreme as my express and position it out of harmways say in the loft? (with the Hd attatched of coarse)

Kev
Posted on: 25 November 2009 by garyi
To explain a bit, what you have purchased is a wireless router.

This is an expensive device which will work a heck of a lot better than your home hub. Turn the wireless off on the home hub and use it from the extreme. The extreme needs to be plugged into your home hub via ethernet. Reasonably you could have the extreme up to 100 metres from the homehub as long as you can run the ethernet lead.

In essence then the extreme takes over the job of routing data around the house and wireless networking. The home hub simply pumps internet into the extreme.