This is an Apple Time Capsule. It’s a great device: it shares out an Internet connection via wireless, and it contains a hard drive for backups.
Time Capsule.
Backups happen automatically, courtesy of Time Machine. It’s great to know that if you misplace a file you can grab a copy from the backup.
We bought our Time Capsule in March 2008. It’s been quiet, efficient and effective.
Until last night when it quietly, efficiently and effectively died. One minute there was an Internet connection; the next there was not.
I messed around with it, plugging it into various power points. Apart from a momentary flash of green light occasionally as I jiggled the plug it was dead as dead.
Airport Express.
Luckily I still had an old Airport Express. After a bit of searching I located it, plugged it in and then had to find the correct settings for it. I finally found the information in a note I’d saved in 1Password. That got us back online.
The Airport express is no substitute for a Time Capsule though.
The upside of this hardware failure is that now we have a brand new Time Capsule.
These newer models have added features, such as Guest Access to the network — it uses a separate password and prevents guests from accessing the machines on your main network.
Set up a separate Wi-Fi network with a separate password for your visitors. Simply enable the guest networking feature, and your guests can use the Internet but can’t access other parts of your private network, such as your computers, printers and attached hard drives.
[Via : Time Capsule - 1 TB - Apple Store (New Zealand).]
Another new feature I anticipate enjoying is Simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi:
For maximum range and compatibility, Time Capsule works simultaneously on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing all the devices on the network to use the most efficient band automatically.
I’m hoping that will mean that when I’m working in the kitchen and turn on the microwave I’ll still be able to get a signal.
I have yet to connect up to start a new backup. As I recall from the previous model the initial backup can take a very long time. I plan to do it via ethernet to hurry it up a bit.
I just hope this one lasts more than 2 years.
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Did you get your time capsule replaced for free? Apple know there is a problem and have been “fixing” (replacing) dead ones for free. Call the worldwide Applecare number and let them know.
Oh, and do your initial backup via a wired connection – it knocks a good couple of hours off!
Thanks David.
I doubt Apple would replace the dead one – it’s almost 2 years old, so well out of any warranty period.
I did the initial backup for my MacBook Pro overnight via ethernet. It took about 12 hours. The initial backup for the MacBook took 4. I remember doing it wirelessly with the old one. From memory that was around 36 hours!
No, seriously, mine was almost exactly two years old (I bought it more or less as soon as they were announced) and because it’s Apple’s fault the power supply went pop they’ve been replacing them if you ask. Apple NZ know stuff all about it but if you call the international AppleCare number and tell them that Apple know about the problem and have been replacing them then they’ll issue you a repair number that Apple NZ will use to “repair” it.
Some resources!
http://timecapsuledead.org/
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2129872 (an infamous thread)
It’s even on Wikipedia now … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Capsule_(Apple)#Failures
Get it fixed and TradeMe the new/other one. Use the money to buy me a pint!
Hey thanks, David. I’ll look into that, though possibly not for a couple of days – big deadline looms for tomorrow.
If it could be replaced / repaired I’d be very happy to sell the old one to subsidise the new one, and to buy you a pint.
Well, David. The bad news is that the support number I called (an Australian, I believe) knew nothing about dead Time Capsules. I have a case number and instructions to take it to the local repair shop.
This doesn’t bode well.
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