I need to replace my time capsule - not sure what to replace with

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I need to replace my time capsule - not sure what to replace with

Hi - I have a time capsule. It was bought in May 2016 and is an 802.11ac - so now 7 years old. I know its getting close to end of life and recently noticed its not using the best security. I didn't realize that and of course want our network to be secure, but have no idea what to replace it with. We have always used the time capsule because it allows my husband and I to back up our computers using time machine. I have used that back-up when upgrading computers or when files have gotten lost. Its useful.

I am not very technically savvy. We have a two story house with a basement. We stream on TVs on two levels and also connect various smart devices upstairs and downstairs to our WiFi. The Router and cable modem sit upstairs in my office and the only place where we sometimes have slower streaming is the basement. We recently bought an extender to help with that.

I am trying to figure out the best router to buy to replace the time capsule and support our devices, that I can install with minimal technical background AND if there are any that have back-up support like time capsule built into them for time machine back-ups and if not - the best way to continue our time machine back-ups regularly without having to always remember to back-up (Time machine backs up to the time capsule automatically).

Also - we need to figure out how we transfer the most current back-ups from the time capsule to another back-up source, so we don't have to start over.

Can someone help and please advise? Thank you.

Posted on Apr 14, 2023 09:18 PM

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Answer 1

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atravellersp Author

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Apr 14, 2023 10:10 PM in response to sfrench

Thank you - I will read in full in the daytime but looks complicated. What I need is a simple router that and simple time machine back-up that will be easy for a non-technical person to set-up and configure. Thank you.

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Answer 2

Apr 14, 2023 09:47 PM in response to atravellersp

Let's start with the last item first.......Also - we need to figure out how we transfer the most current back-ups from the time capsule to another back-up source, so we don't have to start over.

Time Machine will start over, even if you do transfer the backups to another hard drive. The reason.....Time Machine will see a new backup drive.....and when it does, it will start a new backup. No way to avoid that.

What I would suggest.......connect a USB hard drive to the USB port on the back of the Time Capsule and use the Archive function in AirPort Utility to copy all of the data on the Time Capsule over to the USB drive. You won't really be using this USB drive after that......but you will have all your old backups safely stored in case you need to try to go back and pick up a file from the past. Chances are, you will find that you never need to the old backups, but you will have them, just in case.

Next item......Are you or were you using the Time Capsule as a router to provide a Wi-Fi network for your Wi-Fi devices.....or.....are you or were you using another Wi-Fi router to provide a Wi-Fi network for your devices?

The reason we ask is that the Time Capsule was a unique product in that it combined a Wi-Fi router....and....a built in hard drive for backup storage all in one package. No other manufacturer ever offered the same kind of product.

By now, you are likely thinking that things are going to get a lot more complicated that you hoping for. Unfortunately, that is a fact.

We can offer some suggestions based on your response to the question above, but none of the "solutions" will be simple.......unless.....you simply want to connect a hard drive directly to your Mac(s) and back up that way.

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Answer 3

atravellersp Author

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Apr 15, 2023 10:34 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob - This is very helpful. Thank you. So your recommend above is the Lacie Hard drive to use for backing up through router or plugged directly into the Mac. And can you use that hard drive to back up multiple Macs and also a PC or do they need to be configured differently for Mac and PC?

One last question - I see these advertised on the Apple site for router options - routers - Apple - do you know anything about these? Are these ones you can plug the back-up right Into the router or ones you back-up plugging directly into your computer. I have read a bit that Wi-Fi 6 and mesh are good but really know nothing about them. Never heard of Lacie but will look into it for USB drives. My brother-in-law gave me for Christmas a 1TB Toshiba Canvio Flex to use for extra back-up and wondering if you know anything about that? Thanks so much.

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Answer 4

atravellersp Author

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Apr 14, 2023 10:09 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the fast reply. Good to know about how to back-up the time capsule. I have at least two USB hard drives that I can use for that and will do just that.

To answer your question - we were/are using the Time Capsule as our Wi-Fi router and back-up storage using Time Machine.

So - we need to find the best router to work with out Macs (my husbands is a year old, mine is older and probably will be replaced in the next year or two), iPhones, Smart TVs, Smart Air Filter, Ember device, smart scale, Switch game system and a few other devices, AND that is simple enough for me to set up with our Cable modem and quickly configure. I work from home, so can't be without Internet for any extended time.

AND the best back-up source for backing up both computers using time machine - that is also easy to configure. I wish they could be all in one but seems that has gone away.

Can you help?

Thank you!

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Answer 5

Apr 15, 2023 07:34 AM in response to atravellersp

I wish they could be all in one but seems that has gone away.

Correct, as we have tried to explain. So, an "all in one" or "one piece" solution to replace the Time Capsule does not exist.

The next best thing becomes finding a new Wi-Fi router that will support Time Machine backups to a hard drive that is connected to the USB port on the back of the router. I can think of two kinds of products that will do this.....there may be more.....but I am not aware of them

1) The Synology RT2600 router

2) The upper end Asus routers

So, instead of a "one piece" solution, you will have a "two piece" solution. Everything will work just like your Time Capsule does now, you will just have two pieces instead of one. If appearance is an issue, it would not be that hard in most cases to hide the USB hard drive that is connected to the back of the router.

Here's the rub....I only recommend products that I've used myself and while I am familiar with the Synology and Asus routers, I can only suggest them as possible alternatives to the Time Capsule. We support Apple products on this forum, so unfortunately we would not be able to help with the set up of another manufacturer's product.

If you have a Best Buy store in your area, get in touch with the Geek Squad there. They can install and set up the router and hard drive. They may also have another suggestion for a Time Capsule replacement.

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Answer 6

sfrench

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13 points

Apr 15, 2023 08:14 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Here's another possibly helpful article:

How to Back Up Your Computer <https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/how-to-back-up-your-computer/>

Thanks for asking this question, atravellersp. This is on my mind, too. 🤔

Thanks for your help, Bob Timmons. 👍

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Answer 7

atravellersp Author

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5 points

Apr 15, 2023 08:30 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you. That sounds like an option - especially if we want to back-up both computers. But - since you can only make a recommend on those products - do you have any alternatives that you use and feel comfortable with would recommend or is that not possible since Apple is not in the router/back-up business any longer? Lots of recommendations for BackBlaze cloud back-up due to cost and ease but how does that compare to iCloud. Can you Time Machine back-up to iCloud? Are there Apple supported products that you can back up time machine too - that you plug into your computer versus router? I'd love to know all options. Thank you.

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Answer 8

atravellersp Author

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Apr 15, 2023 08:33 AM in response to atravellersp

Yes - helpful -but also confusing. As it doesn't talk about back-up products that are best for Time Machine. It's just so much easier to back-up a Mac using Time Machine because it backs up everything and I don't have to think much about it. If there are recommends for other simple ways to back up the entire Mac I'm open to other programs. I read NAS is the way to go for multiple computers in one house but that sounds complicated. Thank you.

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Answer 9

Apr 15, 2023 09:01 AM in response to atravellersp

do you have any alternatives that you use and feel comfortable with would recommend

I back up my Mac(s) directly to a USB hard drive that are connected directly to the Mac. I still have a Time Capsule that I use mainly to answer questions on this forum.

As far as hard drive recommendations, I have used Lacie drives for many years with flawless results.

Lots of recommendations for BackBlaze cloud back-up due to cost and ease but how does that compare to iCloud.

I don't use either of these options.

Are there Apple supported products that you can back up time machine too - that you plug into your computer versus router?

Apple supports Time Machine backups to virtually any USB hard drive that is connected directly to a Mac, but they don't advertise or recommend any specific brands or models.

If I were currently using a Time Capsule as my main Wi-Fi router and destination for Time Machine backups over Wi-Fi from my Macs, and the Time Capsule died today, I would buy a Synology RT-2600 and a Lacie USB hard drive and set them up.

I think most users are going to have a difficult time trying to set up a NAS. If I were looking for a new NAS, I would only buy from a store or shop that could also install the product, even though I think I could probably set it up myself. They are expensive, but I would buy a Synology NAS based on recommendations from other contributors on this forum.

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Answer 10

Apr 15, 2023 10:51 AM in response to atravellersp

I have used Lacie drives for many years with flawless results. Have not used any other brands. I have a separate Lacie drive connected to each of the 3 Macs here to back up using Time Machine and also using Carbon Copy Cloner.

I have no interest in Lacie other than that as a satisfied customer.

I don't use a PC so cannot comment if the hard drive must be set up differently for a PC compared to a Mac. I would imagine that the PC has different requirements.

I would not recommend trying to "move" or "swap" a drive from one Mac to another. Too many potential issues.

Sorry, I don't know anything about the routers that Apple sells in their stores or online other than what I read in the product descriptions. I see nothing in the product info of any of these routers about supporting Time Machine.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the 1 TB Toshiba drive.

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Answer 11

atravellersp Author

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Apr 15, 2023 10:47 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob. This is all very helpful. The Toshiba drive is set up to work with either Mac or PC, but do not know if it works with Time Machine. I'll look into it but likely will get a couple of Lacie drives. When you say "I would not recommend trying to "move" or "swap" a drive from one Mac to another." - Do you mean you keep the drive always connected to your Mac - so it does auto time machine back-ups? Just asking as obviously the time capsule allowed us to back up multiple systems to it - but again that was bc it wasn't connected directly to one machine.

Fooey on Apple for discontinuing and making it all tougher. But is what it is. Also - any idea the average life of a Time Capsule? Ours is 7 years old. Thanks.

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Answer 12

Jan 2, 2024 02:41 PM in response to atravellersp

I read your post and I think I have a solution for you. I have a gently used Time Capsule that I was trying to set up with a very old MacBook, which I don’t have the power cord to, and I was going to use it with my iPhone, which doesn’t really seem to work or make much sense. I would be willing to sell it to you for a reasonable price. Get back to me with your thoughts.

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Answer 13

sfrench

Level 1

13 points

Apr 14, 2023 09:21 PM in response to atravellersp

Maybe this would be helpful … "Network Time Machine Backups: Moving on from the Time Capsule" <https://tidbits.com/2022/01/14/network-time-machine-backups-moving-on-from-the-time-capsule/>.

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I need to replace my time capsule - not sure what to replace with

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