Time Capsule worth it?

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subojac

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Time Capsule worth it or rather Aiport Extreme and HDD?

I just moved from vodacom 3g to adsl (2 many issues with support on mac with their crap vodafone software). I'm still waiting for telkom to install my line, but i wanted to know, is it worth getting a Time Capsule. I want to share the web wirelessly and stream content (movies, music etc). So will the Time Capsule do the job? Will i be able to watch a movie over the 801.22n wifi connection if I use the Time Capusle for all my multimedia sotorage needs?

Also, and this is just if anyone knows, I bought my iMAc 2 years ago, so it's only got draft n on the wifi (I think), will I get n speeds over wifi with my iMac?
 
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Whats the price difference between the Time Capsule and the Airport Extreme (which you can plug in any number of USB drives)?
 
think is't like a R1000 diff, but i thought the usb on the airport extreme was just for printer. Can you plug a usb into it, and then the same question as in the beginning can i stream fast enough etc?
 
External + Airport Extreme Multimedia setup

okay, so i've checked the pricing. Lets say I go with a aiport extreme (R2000) + and 1TB external HDD (R1000) and a cheap adsl modem (+- R500). Does that sound like a good multimedia streaming combo? Or will i still ahev issues with lag etc. Seems better than the time capsule, cause if something craps out I only have to replace one component. Also easier to add a AppleTv or something later.

What do you think, any alternatives would also be appreciated
 
As long as you have gigabit switches it's good... having the cheap modem at 100mb/s is ok because internet isn't that fast yet. Connect all computers wirelessly or via n networking. Sometimes I try streaming movies to my G enabled computers and they suffer from lag but the gigabit cabled ones have no issues. I haven't tried N streaming yet.
 
I've got a time capsule as my main router with mixed g/n clients.
I don't often stream from the time capsule, mostly view off wireless connected appletv (itunes trailers and streaming etc) and it works fine.
Streaming from wifi-g MBP to appletv also works fine.
I don't see why streaming off the time capsule - even at g-speeds - shouldn't work ok.

Beware if the client you use for streaming from has time machine enabled to the time capsule, that will bring your streaming experience to a grinding halt when a backup starts.
 
subojac said:
think is't like a R1000 diff, but i thought the usb on the airport extreme was just for printer. Can you plug a usb into it, and then the same question as in the beginning can i stream fast enough etc?
Click to expand...
You can connect both a printer and hdds via a USB hub on the extreme. The express only does printing.

I regularly stream across my network but like BobJones said time machine may well bog things down.

What exactly are you looking to stream? HD? SD?
 
Thanks for the advice on the time machine issue, will have to make sure it's not enabled, also got a PC i'd like to connect as well, so then I have to go the FAT32 route in the HDD which i don't think time machine supports.

Won't be doing to much HD, maily SD
 
subojac said:
Thanks for the advice on the time machine issue, will have to make sure it's not enabled, also got a PC i'd like to connect as well, so then I have to go the FAT32 route in the HDD which i don't think time machine supports.

Won't be doing to much HD, maily SD
Click to expand...
Really? I would have though it would be the same as using an external drive on the Extreme.
 
bwana said:
Really? I would have though it would be the same as using an external drive on the Extreme.
Click to expand...

As far as I know time machine needs Mac Journaled for it's backups. With my pervious iomega external it woulden'y backup (drive was greyed out under time machine) untill i formatted to journaled. Would love to attach a journaled drive to the airport, but then the windows machine is gonna moan (i think, don't really know what the deal is with the airdrive app for windows and the drive format). will see when I get them. I'm waiting for telkom to come install my line and then i'll buy the adsl modem, airport and new drive all in one go.

Any suggestions on a cheap adsl modem that will play nice with the airport?

Also if anyonw knows what the outcome will be with drive format and mac/pc issue let me know. I'm pretty sure i'll have to go with fat32 for everything to gell, but then i don't think time machine will work. let me know
 
I've just attached a journaled usb drive to my Extreme - windows accesses it without a problem.

You can always partition the external. It might be an idea to keep the time machine backup on its own partition for ease of use anyway - or even on its own USB drive.

Any adsl modem should work - either in PPPOE or bridged. IOW you can decide if you want your AE to dial in, your laptop, your adsl modem or even a combination of them all (if your modem supports it).
 
Will this one work? Only R380

Tenda ADSL 2+ Broadband Router 4 port Ethernet
Overview

D840R ADSL2+ Router complies with ADSL, ADSL2 and ADSL2+ standards. Supporting up to 24Mbps downstream rate and 1Mbps upstream rate, it supports multiple network protocols and provides NAT Router, Bridge and switch functions. Built-in 4-port switch can add more end users without purchasing hub or switch. In addition, the intelligent software, Setup Wizard, can assist you to access the Internet fast and easily. Powerful and exquisite, it is the best choice for SOHO and small enterprise users to share the Internet.

Features
  • Provides up to 24Mbps downstream rate and 1Mbps upstream rate
  • Supports DHCP, NAT, IGMP, ICMP, ARP
  • Four 10/100M Auto-Negotiation RJ-45 Ethernet ports for network adapter, Hub and switch connectivity
  • One RJ-11 port and Voice Splitter included
  • One USB port support for connecting PC’s USB port
  • Provides Web-based management and firmware upgrade
  • Complies with ADSL, ADSL2 and ADSL2+ standards
  • Provides NAT Router, Bridge and switch functions
  • Compatible with all mainstream DSLAM (CO)
  • Provides PPPOE, PPPOA, CLIP protocols
  • Supports firewall and hacker attack prevention
  • Supports Internet Multi Media
  • Provides static and dynamic routes
  • Up to 6.5km transmission distance
  • Setup Wizard support for fast and easy configurations
 
subojac said:
Will this one work? Only R380

Tenda ADSL 2+ Broadband Router 4 port Ethernet
Overview

D840R ADSL2+ Router complies with ADSL, ADSL2 and ADSL2+ standards. Supporting up to 24Mbps downstream rate and 1Mbps upstream rate, it supports multiple network protocols and provides NAT Router, Bridge and switch functions. Built-in 4-port switch can add more end users without purchasing hub or switch. In addition, the intelligent software, Setup Wizard, can assist you to access the Internet fast and easily. Powerful and exquisite, it is the best choice for SOHO and small enterprise users to share the Internet.

Features
  • Provides up to 24Mbps downstream rate and 1Mbps upstream rate
  • Supports DHCP, NAT, IGMP, ICMP, ARP
  • Four 10/100M Auto-Negotiation RJ-45 Ethernet ports for network adapter, Hub and switch connectivity
  • One RJ-11 port and Voice Splitter included
  • One USB port support for connecting PC’s USB port
  • Provides Web-based management and firmware upgrade
  • Complies with ADSL, ADSL2 and ADSL2+ standards
  • Provides NAT Router, Bridge and switch functions
  • Compatible with all mainstream DSLAM (CO)
  • Provides PPPOE, PPPOA, CLIP protocols
  • Supports firewall and hacker attack prevention
  • Supports Internet Multi Media
  • Provides static and dynamic routes
  • Up to 6.5km transmission distance
  • Setup Wizard support for fast and easy configurations
Click to expand...
I dont see why not. If its available locally I would presume its been tested on our lines.
 
one thing you might want to look at (obvious dependant on budget) are Belkin devices - I don't think Belkin has the best feature set and support, but one thing appealing is that most of the devices have life-time warranty.

As long as your device is not fried by lightning, any malfunction will allow you to swop out. Over the last 3 years I managed to "upgrade" my network-gear (especially Wifi accesspoints) as the devices failed to a newer version model.
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
one thing you might want to look at (obvious dependant on budget) are Belkin devices - I don't think Belkin has the best feature set and support, but one thing appealing is that most of the devices have life-time warranty.

As long as your device is not fried by lightning, any malfunction will allow you to swop out. Over the last 3 years I managed to "upgrade" my network-gear (especially Wifi accesspoints) as the devices failed to a newer version model.
Click to expand...

Okay, will take a look at them, but i still want to go with Airport Extreme for my Wifi and i don't think belkin make wired adls alone. Also, i'd rather do with something that doesn't fail that often. I did see a belkin adsl/wfi n router with USB for external, but it was more expensive than just getting a airport and adsl modem.
 
subojac said:
Okay, will take a look at them, but i still want to go with Airport Extreme for my Wifi and i don't think belkin make wired adls alone. Also, i'd rather do with something that doesn't fail that often. I did see a belkin adsl/wfi n router with USB for external, but it was more expensive than just getting a airport and adsl modem.
Click to expand...

agree with you on those. I started of with a Belkin N (which died after 1 year) got a replacement to a Belkin N1 (died after 14 months) and just recently replaced it with a Belkin N+. The N+ has the whole USB storage option, I have never tried it as I just use it as a glorified access-point (nothing can beat the Netgear DG834 as a ADSL modem). (The N+ is almost 3K at Incredible Corruption - shocking....)
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
agree with you on those. I started of with a Belkin N (which died after 1 year) got a replacement to a Belkin N1 (died after 14 months) and just recently replaced it with a Belkin N+. The N+ has the whole USB storage option, I have never tried it as I just use it as a glorified access-point (nothing can beat the Netgear DG834 as a ADSL modem). (The N+ is almost 3K at Incredible Corruption - shocking....)
Click to expand...

YEah, i looked at the Belkin N+ and way too much money for what you get. I know we're using a Netgear DG834 at my office and apparently it works like a charm. Now if only Telkom will finish installing my line I can actually go buy some of this. Been waiting for two weeks and every time I call telkom all I get is, "Sir, they are looking at your number", whatever the hell that means.
 
bwana said:
I've just attached a journaled usb drive to my Extreme - windows accesses it without a problem.

You can always partition the external. It might be an idea to keep the time machine backup on its own partition for ease of use anyway - or even on its own USB drive.
Click to expand...


Agreed there - why would you want to access your time machine backups via windows anyway, you cant do nothing with the backup file there.

subojac said:
YEah, i looked at the Belkin N+ and way too much money for what you get. I know we're using a Netgear DG834 at my office and apparently it works like a charm. Now if only Telkom will finish installing my line I can actually go buy some of this. Been waiting for two weeks and every time I call telkom all I get is, "Sir, they are looking at your number", whatever the hell that means.
Click to expand...

Can't believe that people are getting so much hassle with the belkin. I still have to original old telkom adsl modem (no wi-fi) and it hasn't given any hassles in 5 years. Also connected via my airport extreme. I use time machine on a partitioned external attached via usb to the iMac - 150gig for time machine and 250gig as an external data drive formatted via FAT32.

In can also install NTFS-3G on OS X to be able to write and delete on a NTFS Windows formatted drive. Using it with my 250gig portable which travels with me to work everyday.
 
subojac said:
So will the Time Capsule do the job? Will i be able to watch a movie over the 801.22n wifi connection if I use the Time Capusle for all my multimedia sotorage needs?

Also, and this is just if anyone knows, I bought my iMAc 2 years ago, so it's only got draft n on the wifi (I think), will I get n speeds over wifi with my iMac?
Click to expand...

Yes and yes. However, the Airport Extreme is a better deal. I have got one with a Drobo attached (http://www.drobo.com/) and it streams SD and HD content no problem.
To check what speed your wifi is connecting at, hold down the alt button at the bottom left of your keyboard, and click on the wifi signal at the top right of your screen. You will see your connection speed under "Transmit Rate".
Draft N should give about 300mbps. It does vary according to conditions/distance etc.

To check what wifi your mac has, click the Apple, click "About this mac", Click "More info", scroll down to Network>Airport, and look what PHY modes are supported. You will get your answer about your old mac there!
 
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