Couple of Time Capsule Q's

Hi, I'm planning to buy one on monday and want to use it with Time Machine and also to share media files with other laptop and PCs (windows)

1. does the hard disk have a power saver option like spin down after 1 hour of idle?

2. can window user be able to read/write without having to format it to fat32. guess I can use MacDrive?

3. is it possible to partition the drive?

4. does it get hot?

as far as I can the difference between the newer model is the Dual Band, so I should get the earlier model

Thanks in Advance

 

I can answer most of your questions. Time Capsule spins down right after if backs up your Mac. Windows machines on the network can access and write to your TC without special formatting. TC does not work as a backup utility for Windows based machines, it only works as a network attached storage.
It gets warm but it really doesn't matter as it should be used as an appliance that you place away in your home. I don't believe you can partition it however I will let someone else chime in. There's really no need to partition it as it creates sparse bundles from Time Machine and it's quite easy to separate files on it.

 

thanks for the reply HLdan, I was also wondering how good is the wireless because usually the for Wireless N you get 3 antennas stick out of them but the TC are internal.

 

I have the original 1TB TC. The wireless is actually pretty good. I live in an apartment so it's not the best way to test it however I just got an iPod Touch and I use it outside my apartment and it maintains the signal from the TC very well, at least up to 200 ft from my testing. Yeah, I noticed that most routers' antenna stick out but Apple is doing something right with TC as it works well with internal antennas.

 

I'd personally vote for buying the Airport Extreme Base Station and adding an external USB HD instead of buying a Time Capsule. The reasons for this are it makes upgrading your HD much easier if you run out of room. Also, if you ever want to take your backup drive off site, you can't do it with the TC as there goes your whole router too. More flexibility with an AEBS instead of TC.

 

Time Machine is not supported by adding an external hard drive to an AEBS. That's why Apple sells the TC. You can only use the external drive connected to AEBS via USB as a NAS.

 

I too have the 1 Tb Time Capsule and can answer your questions:

1) Yes the HDD powers after a short period of time. It's not an hour, it's definitely shorter. Maybe 10-15 minutes. I have yet to find a software or option to configure that.

2) Yes, all my computers are networked in my house, two Macbook Pros and a Windows desktop. No need for MacDrive or anything, just install the software provided with the Time Capsule on the Windows machine.

3) Not as far as I can see in Airport Utility. Disk Utility doesn't show the Airport Disk.

4) Yes it does. Not as hot as my Macbook Pro after encoding DVDs for 5 hours, but it does get warm.

As far as wireless power/range, I have tested my TC with my Macbook Pro and on my 20Mbps line I still get 1MB/s download speed with one wireless bar in my garden, which is about 150-200m out of my house (where the TC is).

 

thanks for the replies the reason I the TC (older model) is that it was only £99 inc delivery compared to £230 for the Dual band.

also my current D-link 635 only give me a link speed of 130 Mbit/s so hope the TC will give me 270-300 Mbit/s.

anyone tried using the USB port to add a usb fan to help keep it cool?

 

Sorry, you're wrong. I use Time Machine on my Mac to backup via AEBS to USB HD without ANY problems at all! At one point I had three Mac's backing up via Time Machine.

 

Pointless waste of power.

 

This isn't a contest on his right or wrong dude. I never said that wasn't possible, I said it wasn't supported and it's not. Many people haven't had luck doing the way you do it.

Apple's own website states that adding an external hard drive to the AEBS is used as a NAS. So at this point it's not good advice to recommend people doing it via your method.

http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/features/harddrivesharing.html

 

After several minutes of use the Time Capsule internal HD will spin down.

Yes the windows computer will be able to read&Write fine without any additional disk formatting.

It's possible. I would 100% advise not to do so. You see, within the Time Capsule Drive is an already existing hidden partition. It's actually some software thats used to connect to Time Machine. If its deleted, then wireless Time Machine backups may not work. However I have seen partitioned Time Capsules working with Time machine but its very unstable. Also, if you partition it then the Hard Ware warranty is 100% gone and will not be covered under any Apple Care.

Yes, gets very hot.

Either one works.