Chris’s Blog

Finally, after a tad more configuration, all my wireless stuff is working pretty much to my satisfaction.  It all started with the introduction of my new Time Capsule into my network.  It being the “most advanced” device, I of course (perhaps to my own detriment) decided it should be the top dawg (yes, that’s proper spelling in Georgia).  This meant swapping out the AirPort Extreme Base Station that was doing my primary Internet routing (see this post).

The last piece to this puzzle was my secondary Xbox360 (in the bedroom).  It must connect wirelessly because I could not get a wire through the floor after two full evenings of trying.  The problem is apparently, the Xbox360 Wireless Adapter (an overpriced piece of crap) is not compatible with the Time Capsule. It apparently had this same issue with AirPort Extreme when it first was introduced, but Microsoft fixed it with a firmware update.  Rather than wait a year for that, I decided to just create a WDS network with my Time Capsule as the boss and the AEBS as a remote unit.

This is not entirely intuitive, so let me give it in step-by-step form:

1. The first key to all this is that you have to set the primary device to “Participate in a WDS network” rather than “Create a wireless network” which is what I would’ve thought it should be.  Changing that setting allows the hidden WDS settings to show up.
2. Now, add the client (in my case the AEBS) MAC address to the allowed WDS clients section in your main device’s settings.
3. Then, I had to do a factory reset or two on the AEBS and set it up similarly.  Here, you want to set the WDS setting to “remote” and add the MAC address of the main device.
4. Lastly, I configured the AEBS’s IP addresses manually using 192.168.xxx.2 as the IP for it and telling it the router and DNS server was 192.168.xxx.1.  Manual settings just seemed smarter than allowing DHCP to assign the AEBS an IP.  Make sure you remove the IP you just assigned from the DHCP range.  Also make sure the remote station is set to “Bridge mode.”

So, now I have the Time Capsule sitting with the cable modem in the basement and doing my primary routing/DHCP stuff.  It is also hardwired to my Media Center PC.  The AirPort Extreme is in the bedroom next to the Xbox360.  It is configured as a WDS remote station/bridge and the Xbox360 is hardwired to it.  (Know anyone who wants to buy a slightly used Xbox360 Wireless Adapter?)  Either one can be used as an access point, but due to the basement location of the Time Capsule, all of my wireless clients typically connect to the AEBS in the bedroom.  I may actually swap them in the near future so that the Time Capsule does most of the wireless stuff and the AEBS is the primary router/DHCP/WDS device.  It just feels like that would be faster–especially when it comes to Time Machine backups.  For right now, I’m tired of looking at the Airport Utility screen, so I’m not changing anything for at least a few days.

I stumbled on this thanks to TUAW.com (The Unofficial Apple Weblog). This ranks very high on my list of the dumbest things ever invented.

Behold, the MagStay PRO (not sure why it’s called “PRO”–is there a non-professional, simpler version?). It’s sole purpose in life is to keep your Apple MagSafe power connector from doing what it’s supposed to do–disconnect in the event of a sharp tug!

In nearly 2 years of using my MacBook, I can honestly say I’ve had this problem two or three times. Each time, I was able to easily work around it by slightly modifying my body position/posture.  On the flip side, I (or someone I know) has tripped on my power cord at least a dozen times (including a few tangles the dogs have had with it) and each time, the MagSafe connector has done its job and kept an expensive device from flying off the table.

How absolutely stupid.

I got my new Time Capsule yesterday when I got back to the office and decided to set it up last night. Wow, what I thought was going to be an easy swap turned into a 2+ hour, rebooting pain in the neck.

I was excited due to an AppleInsider article that made it seem like an easy thing to “upgrade” my current AirPort Extreme Base Station to the Time Capsule. Here’s the screenshot that got me excited:

So, it would seem like the software would use the config file from my AEBS to configure the Time Capsule in a similar fashion and I’d be all set up in no time flat. In fact, that’s what it seemed to do before I took it downstairs to plug into the cable modem…

Problem number one was that I had to reboot the cable modem after I swapped the AEBS for the Time Capsule. No clue why, but maybe that’s not Time Capsule’s fault. Took me a few minutes to figure that one out, though.

Problem number two was that no matter what I tried, I could not get wireless off it. Everything was reporting functioning, my wired desktop was connected fine and could access the internet. I could even see the wireless network from my Macbook. No wireless–the connection just timed out every time. After trying everything (new password, no wireless security, different SSIDs), I finally did a full “reset to factory defaults”. That didn’t work either–the Time Capsule never booted up fully. So, I did another full reset, this time by pulling the power cord and holding the reset button as I plugged it back in. That seemed to work and I started over.

So, this time, I tried setting up the Time Capsule as a completely new device on a new wireless network. Worked fine. Until I tried to import my config file from the AEBS to get things like my DHCP reservations and port maps back. When the Time Capsule rebooted, again no wireless.

Finally, I factory reset one more time. Again, the software reset wouldn’t work–the Time Capsule never came back online, so I had to do the hard reset with the power cord. This time, I set it up completely from scratch using the config file (it’s just XML) to copy/paste things like the MAC addresses for my Xbox DHCP reservations. Working nicely.

So, last thing, I go up to try and get my mother-in-law’s computer back on the wireless. I tried to use the feature of the Airport Utility software that allows you to join a wireless client without actually entering the WPA password in the client. No dice. Not only did it not work, but it hung the Time Capsule. I tried to change the WPA password and Airport Utility crashed leaving the Time Capsule (now, two floors down) needing yet another reboot.

All-told, I must have rebooted that thing about 15-20 times and hard-reset it twice during setup. A word to the wise: Do NOT try and use your AEBS config to quickly set up your new Time Capsule.

Apple should have probably delayed Time Capsule and its accompanying updated version of Airport Utility (or not promised it in February to begin with) for at least another month to work the kinks out. It’s working now, but I can never have those 2 hours back and I was hoping to play some Puzzle Quest last night!

This past weekend, I flew up to NJ for my sister’s birthday.  The fun thing was that she didn’t know I was coming.  Dad picked me up from the airport and brought me home and when I walked in the door Katy just sort of stood there with her mouth hanging open and said, “What?! What?”  LOL  It was fun.

After her Sweet 16/4 year-old/Western-themed birthday party Friday night (which everyone pitched in to help with), it was pretty much just relaxing and taking it easy for the rest of the weekend.  Then, I flew back Monday afternoon/evening.  Kayla was very happy to see me and gave me a “Welcome Home” balloon which has now joined the many other cubicle decorations in my cube here at work.

Two last items of interest:

1. I have reignited my love of my Nintendo DS.  I played a bunch of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and might end up actually beating the game soon and I picked up Puzzle Quest on the cheap.  I am now thoroughly addicted to Puzzle Quest.  It sounds crazy, but it’s Bejeweled mixed with an RPG.
2. My Time Capsule is here!  It shipped on Thursday from Shanghai which is amazing to me.