Repurpose Apple Network Devices

I read on another site that I could switch the Time Capsule to Bridge mode, attach it to the new router and use the Time Capsule as a NAS therefore still utilizing the automated, wireless backups with Time Machine. Is this true?

Yes, using the "new" wireless network of the new router or the wireless network provided by the Time Capsule and Expresses. Depending on the type of "modem" that you are using, the Time Capsule might already be set up in Bridge Mode....which Apple calls "Off (Bridge Mode)" just to be different. But, that's another discussion.

But....I would not recommend using the Time Capsule as your only backup plan. After 7-8 years, the hard drive is "suspect". It might go for another 2-3 years, or it might die tomorrow.

Apple will not be able to install a new hard drive in the Time Capsule, if that was what you were thinking, but an independent shop might. Won't be cheap.....probably $200-250 or more.

And.....don't forget that the Time Capsule power supply is also 7-8 years old, so it is suspect as well. Won't make sense to think about replacing the hard drive unless you also replace the power supply. Add another $150-200 or so for that if parts can be found. (Apple never made replacement parts available to users).

Can I perform similar functions with the Airport Expresses, maintaining them in Bridge mode, attaching them to the network extenders, giving me wireless access to the USB ports for printing or hard drive access and wireless audio?

Yes, but if you want the Express to extend the network wirelessly, it must connect to the Wi-Fi provided by the Time Capsule or another Apple AirPort router, like an AirPort Extreme.

The Express cannot wirelessly extend the network provided by a 3rd party router. The Express(es) can be configured to work with a 3rd party router using a wired Ethernet or MOCA setup.

It's amazing to me that not one single third party has come up with a replacement for Apple's Time Capsule, giving users the ability to wirelessly and automatically keep their devices backed up, in one simple unit.

That's the upside. The downside is that the router business is a high volume, low profit beast that also demands high support levels. My guess would be that Apple is far more interested in the high millions to be made selling phones that bring in tons of residual profits.

MZXII wrote:

It's amazing to me that not one single third party has come up with a replacement for Apple's Time Capsule, giving users the ability to wirelessly and automatically keep their devices backed up, in one simple unit. I know a lot of companies including Apple have switched to cloud based backups, but what do you do if you don't have access to the internet?

Apple does not provide cloud-based storage backups for macOS backups, though some third-party providers do.

For storage, Synology offers dedicated NAS storage for various uses including Time Machine, and also offers devices with a combination of both Wi-Fi and Time Machine storage (RT2600ac, MR2200ac, etc). The latter approach uses the USB storage you attach to the Synology Wi-Fi router.

Local preference is Synology for (usually RAID’d) NAS and Time Machine Server, and Ubiquiti or Zyxel for wired and Wi-Fi networking.

Ubiquiti Express is the current analog to the Wi-Fi and firewall and related features of AirPort or AirPort Time Capsule, though that option does not provide integrated NAS for Time Machine Server.

If you have a spare x86-64 box, TrueNAS can potentially be an cheaper option for NAS and Time Machine Server.

For obvious reasons, the Apple Wi-Fi features are dated, as compared with those of Ubiquiti or Zyxel, and the storage and network service features of Synology. Synology NAS can replace much of what Apple macOS Server once provided, for instance. And Synology can also archive the local Time Machine backups to hosted storage, if you want that added security against potential data loss.

One thing I wanted to clarify, is my question regarding the repurposing of the Airport Express was not to use them to extend the network as I know they only work Apple-to-Apple, but to make the USB support and the 3.5mm TRS connector still useable wirelessly, attached to the extender for the make of whatever wifi replacement I decided to go with

Let's assume that your "new" extenders are not Apple. The best way to connect an AirPort Express would be using a wired Ethernet cable from the extender to the Express, so you would want to make sure that the extender(s) that you choose include at least 1 Ethernet port.

The Express might be able to connect wirelessly to the extender, but remember that these products were designed more than 10 years ago and Apple never changed or improved the hardware in these devices. They are of a much older 802.11n design.....now several generations behind current Wi-Fi standards.

Even if you find that the Express will connect using Wi-Fi, try to use Ethernet if at all possible.....just because Wi-Fi is never as stable over time as a wired connection.