What is the best Time Capsule replacement?

You have not provided adequate information for us to help you out. However please remember, there is no "Best" in anything that is why we have choices. What you need to determine is what is the best solution for YOUR needs. So at this point in order to help you, we need more information about your needs.

It sounds like you need a new router and Time Machine backup. If that is the case, then please let us know how many Wi-Fi devices you have in your home, the approximate square footage of your home (to get adequate wi-fi coverage) and about how much data is stored on your Mac in order to select adequate Time Machine capacity. Then we can help steer you to routers and Time Machine backup EHD's that you can connect to your iMac.

The TerraMasterF4-212 4-Bay NAS is pretty good, it has four drive bays, and good redundancy.. There's lots of space, pretty good processor, plus good for backing multiple Macs up. and it’s fast enough for other stuff like media storage too. Just a bit more setup and cost compared to simpler options.

What is the best Time Capsule replacement?

None actually. Remember that the Time Capsule was unique product......a Wi-Fi router with a built in hard drive designed to handle Time Machine backups from multiple Macs over Wi-Fi.

No other manufacturer ever offered a similar product, so let's first start by having you tell us whether you already have a separate Wi-Fi router controlling your network.

If you don't, your first task will be to buy a new Wi-Fi router and get it working well.

"Best" is a bit ambiguous and depends on what you really want. If you're happy to plug a drive into your Mac's USB port then just use a USB hard drive with enough storage - empty preferably because Time Machine will format it and you'll lose whatever's on it. In my case I wanted a backup drive I could just leave plugged in and access via Wi-Fi without going to the expense of buying a NAS to plug into the router. I also wanted something cheap and low power that could use any USB drive. I didn't want to go to the expense of buying a(nother) NAS. After a bit of research I settled on a Raspberry Pi with USB drive attached. It meets all my requirements and has the added advantage that I can use the Pi for other stuff - I'm currently looking at using it for a light controller via my Hue hub and it could also be expanded to use now-obsolete SATA drives from my Time Capsules as a NAS if I can muster the enthusiasm. I'd never used a Raspi before; I got everything I needed from the Raspi supprt forums and it didn't take long to set it up and get it working. Remember that a backup can't be considered to be working until you've successfully restored from it.

Also, while you're about it, make sure you're using a good backup strategy. Search for "321 Backups" if you're not already doing them.

Cavebat1 wrote:

Need to replace Time Capsule

Best for who, what, and why?

What other gear is already installed, or might also be replaced here?

What is the budget?

Those and other questions, only you can answer.

Two of the various previous discussions with details and considerations:

• Time Machine will no longer support Time … - Apple Community

• Apple will stop supporting the AirPort Ti… - Apple Community

claus237 wrote:

Time machine Back-up on an extern Harddrive!

While a local hard disk drive can work, that is not a particularly great option when wireless operations are preferred, or when multiple Macs are involved.

Cavebat1 wrote:

Need to replace Time Capsule

Why? Explain. For example, is it broken, or are you merely concerned backups won't work any more, or...?

A comprehensive answer requires more information than that.

It works for me , but I can follow you ,Mr. Hoffmann!

Thank you for your feedback.

Time machine Back-up on an extern Harddrive!

"Time machine" had saved, my ***, some times!...................Google Translate........Not mine words!