Review: Speedy new AirPort Time Capsule is a good buy

Apple is ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting the IEEE 802.11ac wireless networking standard. While 802.11ac routers are not new, Apple’s latest AirPort Time Capsule is the first to include an integrated hard drive. Apple is also one of the first manufacturers to include an 802.11ac client adapter as standard equipment in its computer lineup.

When I used AccessAgility’s WiFiPerf benchmarking tool to measure the 802.11ac Time Capsule, with a 2013 MacBook Air as the client, I measured a very respectable TCP throughput rate of 451.9 mbps at close range (with the router and client in the same room, separated by about nine feet). That’s more than twice as fast as the older 802.11n Time Capsule’s 218.7 mbps (operating a network on the 5GHz frequency band).

What’s more, the 802.11ac Time Capsule delivered TCP throughput in excess of 100 mbps in two other rooms inside my house where the 5GHz 802.11n Time Capsule wasn’t able to maintain any connection to the MacBook Air.

The new MacBook Air achieved significantly higher throughput when connected to the 802.11ac Time Capsule than it did the older 802.11n Time Capsule. (Click to expand chart.)
Unfortunately, something is crimping Apple’s 802.11ac network performance. As I reported in this earlier story, Apple’s gear is radically slower when tasked with transferring real-world files over the network (WiFiPerf is a synthetic benchmark for measuring TCP throughput).

When I copied a 10GB collection of files and folders (videos, music files, word documents, spreadsheets, and the like) from the hard drive in an iMac hardwired to the Time Capsule to the SSD in a wirelessly networked MacBook Air (which was again about nine feet from the router), I measured throughput of just 84.8 mbps, meaning the transfer required more than 16 minutes to complete (each test was performed three times and the results were then averaged). Reading those files from the MacBook Air and writing them to the iMac happened at a slightly faster pace: 132.1 mbps (nearly 10.5 minutes).

Something in OS X is preventing the 802.11ac Time Capsule from delivering maximum performance with wireless file transfers. (Click to expand chart.)
The Time Capsule’s network performance improved only a little when copying a single 10GB file from the iMac to the MacBook Air, to 134 mbps (averaging 10 minutes, 13 seconds). Copying that same file back to the MacBook Air: 163.5 mbps (about 8.5 minutes). Obviously, none of those figures are anywhere close to WiFiPerf’s result of more than 450 mbps.

File-transfer performance wasn't much better with a single large file. (Click to expand chart.)
Based on my experience testing 802.11ac routers with Windows machines, I expected the 802.11ac Time Capsule to be considerably faster than the 802.11n model. And that’s certainly what my WiFiPerf results indicate. But these real-world file transfers defy that expectation.

The current theory, first published at Anandtech, is that OS X is not properly scaling TCP window size during file transfers to allow the MacBook Air’s 802.11ac client adapter to achieve peak performance. While Apple has not confirmed this to be the problem, the company is aware of the performance discrepancy and is reportedly working on a solution.

In addition to operating a 5GHz network based on the 802.11ac standard, the Time Capsule can also operate a 2.4GHz network to support older 802.11b-, -g, and -n clients, as well as a 5GHz network to support 802.11a and 802.11n clients. This is important, as the new MacBook Air is one of the few devices to support 802.11ac. Most computers, smartphones, media streamers, and other networkable devices rely on the older standards.

Using WiFiPerf once again, I measured TCP throughput with a mid-2011 13-inch MacBook Pro connected first to the older 802.11n Time Capsule (at 5GHz) and then to the new 802.11ac Time Capsule. TCP throughput was only a little higher at close range—301.7 mbps with the 802.11ac Time Capsule versus 285.3 mbps with the 802.11n model—but the new router was dramatically faster at longer distance: 67.7 mbps compared to just 32.3 mbps with the client separated from the router by 65 feet and three insulated interior walls.

Apple's 802.11ac Time Capsule delivers great performance with an 802.11n MacBook Pro client, especially at range. (Click to enlarge chart.)
Once Apple fixes the file-transfer problem, upgrading to the 802.11ac Time Capsule should also deliver better network performance with older Macs outfitted with 802.11n adapters.

I typically cover a product’s feature set at the beginning of the review, but in this case I thought it more important to discuss Apple’s file-transfer issues first. As I’ve already mentioned, the 802.11ac Time Capsule is a dual-band model, capable of operating networks on both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz frequency bands. It’s equipped with six antennas: three transmit, three receive for its 2.4GHz radio, and three transmit, three receive for its 5GHz radio. The antennas are mounted near the top of the 6.6-inch-tall columnar device, which likely helps it achieve longer range. It supports three 433.3 mbps spatial streams for a maximum physical link rate of 1.3 Gbps. (The 802.11ac adapter in the new MacBook Air supports two spatial streams for a maximum physical link rate of 867 mbps when connecting to an 802.11ac router.)

ROBERT CARDINThe 802.11ac Time Capsule has an unusual form factor.
The new Time Capsule also supports an optional feature of the 802.11ac standard known as beam forming. With this technology, the router and each of its clients exchange information as to their physical locations. They use this information to concentrate their radio energy to achieve the highest possible throughput.

The Time Capsule is currently available with either a 2TB hard drive or a 3TB drive. Both models are equipped with an accelerometer that will park the drive’s read/write heads if the router is dropped or tipped over (older Time Capsules do not have this feature). Unlike some other hard-drive-equipped routers, the Time Capsule uses a SATA interface to the hard drive, versus a USB-to-SATA bridge. Apple, however, declined to disclose the rotational speed of the drive’s platters and if the drive has a SATA 6 Gbps interface or a slower SATA 3 Gbps interface.

On the back of the Time Capsule, you’ll find a gigbit WAN port (for connecting to the Internet) and three gigabit LAN ports (for hardwired clients). There’s also a single USB 2.0 port, to support either a shared printer or additional storage. You’ll need to plug in a USB hub if you want both at the same time. The power supply is built into the enclosure, which is much better than having an outlet-hogging wall wart, but an inline power brick would have been a better alternative. Between the 802.11ac chipset, the hard drive, and the power supply, the Time Capsule needs to shed a lot of heat. Apple put a fan inside there to keep things cool, and you can definitely hear it spinning in a quiet room.

The solution to the file-transfer shortcomings I’ve covered here will most likely arrive in a future OS X update, I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with the 802.11ac Time Capsule’s design. My WiFiPerf benchmarks indicate that this router is at least as fast as the best non-Apple 802.11ac routers I’ve tested.

If you’ve purchased a new MacBook Air, you’ll get significantly better performance with the 802.11ac Time Capsule than you will with Apple's 802.11n Time Capsule. In my test environment, the new MacBook Air was unable to maintain a wireless connection to the router’s 5GHz network at longer range. This was less of an issue on the 2.4GHz band, but that spectrum is so congested in more typical environments that you probably won’t want to use it (I happen to live on a 10-acre parcel in a rural area relatively free from other wireless networks).

If you’re using an older Mac client with an 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter, my benchmarks indicate the new Time Capsule will also deliver much higher performance—provided Apple fixes the file-sharing issue, that is. So if you’ve never purchased a Wi-Fi router, and you like the idea of automated local backups, the 802.11ac router is definitely a good buy.

Bugs & Fixes: Fixing AirPort Utility 6.3 problems

Recently, my AirPort network hit a major snag. While my main Base Station continued to function properly, AirPort Utility (on my Mac and iPad) indicated that my three subsidiary AirPort devices had dropped off the network (see image above). Selecting any of the devices in the bottom row resulted in a “Device not found” error. Confirming that these AirPort devices were indeed MIA, none of my wireless devices (iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro) would connect to them. The situation with AirPort Utility on my iPhone was even more disturbing: no AirPort devices showed up at all!

Huh? Everything had been working fine for months. I had made no changes to the AirPort hardware or settings. Why this sudden and unexpected collapse?

One possibility focused on AirPort Utility itself. I had recently updated the application to version 6.3, the version needed to accommodate the new Base Stations with 802.11ac support. However, a software bug seemed more likely to precipitate only a communication failure between AirPort Utility and the AirPort devices, rather than an actual removal of the devices from the network.

This message pops up if I select one of the problem devices.
In any case, a search of the web revealed numerous confirmations of networking problems first appearing after updating to AirPort Utility 6.3. The initial posting of one thread sounded exactly like an instance of my “Device not found” error. More generally, reported problems centered on various failures of AirPort Utility to access AirPort Base Stations.

Several possible solutions were offered, including the obvious one of downgrading back to AirPort Utility 6.2. However, the most recommended suggestion echoed advice that comes from Apple:

1. Go to Network System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Select your active network service (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click the Advanced button.
3. Click the TCP/IP tab.
4. Choose the “Link-local only” option from the Configure IPv6 pop-up menu and click OK.

To fix similar problems with AirPort Utility on iOS devices, Apple’s advice is simpler: Just power down the device and turn it back on.

Unfortunately, I discovered all of this only after I had already made my own attempts to fix the problem. I wound up resetting all four of my AirPort devices and re-entering all their settings. This made for a long and frustrating evening, but eventually I got the entire network working again. As it turned out, my fix did not require any change to the Configure IPv6 setting; it remains set to “Automatically.” This was not a big surprise, as I suspect my problem went beyond what the IPv6 setting addresses.

For my iPhone, Apple’s recommendation to power down the device was what was needed to get its AirPort Utility back on track. After a restart, all my devices were again listed on the phone.

If you are experiencing AirPort problems similar to what I’ve described here, take heart. Your hardware almost certainly does not need any repair or replacement. Based on what I’ve read online and my own experience, at least one of the suggested fixes should remedy your situation.

Follow me on Twitter @sajilpl

Coming To An Airport Near You: Fluffy Stress Relief

Therapy dogs Barney (rear) and Hazel are on the job comforting weary travelers at LAX.

Summer travel is in full swing, and that means crowded airports, flight delays and long security lines. To help calm weary travelers, some airports are turning to man's best friend.

San Jose's and Miami's international airports have therapy dog programs, and Los Angeles International Airport — ranked the second-most-stressful airport in the country last year — launched its own crew of comfort dogs this year.

After passengers clear the TSA checkpoint — put belongings in plastic bins, empty their pockets, take off their shoes and then snatch everything back up — they are met by greeters such as Hazel, a red-and-white pointer mix.

One by one, passengers look up from their laptops and smartphones, with huge smiles on their faces.

Barry Bollinger bends down to say hello to the dog leaning against his knee.

"I have a dog at home and and so I miss her a lot when I'm not there. ...It's kind of nice to have one that you can pet and say hi to," he says.

This is its own reward for Hazel's owner, Lou Friedman.

"When I hear passengers say, 'You made my day, took all the stress away, thank you very much for doing this' — can't ask for anything else. It's wonderful; it's wonderful," he says.

Friedman and his rescue dog are part of a new volunteer program at LAX called PUPS — Pets Unstressing Passengers.

To be a part of the program the dogs have to be certified therapy animals. They work in small shifts, two teams at a time.

A Line You Actually Want To Wait In

Volunteer Linda Scott says she's been taking Barney, her Australian Labradoodle rescue, to homes and hospitals for a couple of years. The airport is a new experience for both of them.

"If there's a big crowd and I sit and watch him, he actually will work the crowd, and go up to everybody and just want to say hi," Scott says.

The reactions are worth it, says Heidi Huebner, the director of volunteer programs at the airport. "You can just see the reactions of people. That's anybody — passengers, employees here, TSA agents, everybody smiles," she says.

Hazel takes a short break after passengers board their plane.

Huebner says the teams are trained to be aware of and sensitive to passengers who may be fearful or have allergies. "Basically it is acknowledging, thanking the person for letting them know and they take the dog and go the other way," she says.

But typically, passengers are waiting in line to make contact with the dogs. A small crowd looks on as Hazel gets a belly rub from Rich Merwin's three young children.

"We're on a seven-hour delay and we still got a few hours left so, it did help, yes," says Merwin.

Not surprisingly, some of the program's biggest fans are the flight crews. Delta pilot Jeff Strachan is watching Barney at the department gate. "I'm thinking that Barney should go with us, [and] not only do I think Barney, but this other one too," he says.

When the passengers board the plane, Barney and Hazel have completed their shift. Barney plops on the floor and Hazel climbs into an empty chair, laying her head on the armrest.

But suddenly — she perks up again.

Traveler Bonnie Vasconcellos approaches Hazel. Having spent the last 20 hours in the airport, she says all she needed was to hug a dog. "Things will be OK, it's all good now," she says.

Snowden 'still in Moscow airport'

Fugitive US whistleblower Edward Snowden is still in the transit area at Moscow airport, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has confirmed.

Mr Putin said the intelligence leaker remained a free man, and the sooner he chose a destination the better.

But a White House spokeswoman said Russia had a "clear legal basis" to expel Mr Snowden.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has said his country would consider an asylum application from Mr Snowden.

"We say and advocate that someone in the world should stand with this young man and protect him, the revelations he has made with courage serve to change the world," he said.

Russia says Mr Snowden has not yet passed through immigration, so technically is not yet under their jurisdiction.

The Russians have rejected American charges that they have assisted Mr Snowden.

China has also rejected similar charges, saying accusations that it allowed him to leave Hong Kong despite a warrant for his arrest were "groundless and unacceptable".

Mr Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday. He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday but never appeared.

The US has revoked Mr Snowden's passport, and he has applied for asylum in Ecuador.

He is being supported by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, and is being accompanied by some of its legal advisers.

Ecuador is already giving political asylum at its London embassy to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertion that the fugitive American remains in the transit area at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport - at least for now - explains why the US Secretary of State John Kerry has sought to calm the flow of escalating rhetoric.

He insisted today that Washington was not looking for confrontation. Mr Kerry clearly hopes that with "calm and reasonableness", as he put it, there may still be a glimmer of a chance that Moscow may hand Mr Snowden over.

Mr Putin, though, supplied no evidence of that.

Mr Putin made it clear that he hopes Mr Snowden moves on soon.

Russia's failure to detain Mr Snowden looks set to sour relations between Washington and Moscow at a time when global problems - not least Syria - require a more concerted effort from the US and Russia.
'Common law'

Russia has no extradition treaty with the United States, but National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that Washington wanted Moscow to extradite Mr Snowden without delay.

Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also called on Moscow to comply with common law practices between countries and send Mr Snowden to America.

"We would simply call on our friends in Russia to respect the fact that a partner nation- a co-member of the permanent five of the United Nations [Security Council] - has made a normal request under legal systems,'' he said.

But Mr Putin said that Russian security agencies "didn't work and aren't working" with Mr Snowden.

His comments back up those of his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who earlier insisted that "we are in no way involved with either Mr Snowden, his relations with US justice, nor his movements around the world."

The 30-year-old IT expert is wanted by the US for revealing to the media details of a secret government surveillance programme, which he obtained while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA).

He is charged with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence.

'Sanctimonious mask'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: "He did not cross the Russian border"

Mr Snowden was in hiding in Hong Kong when his leaks were first published, and John Kerry said it would be "deeply troubling" if it became clear that China had "wilfully" allowed Mr Snowden to fly out of Hong Kong.

"There would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship and consequences," he said.

But China is also unhappy. Its government has expressed concern about Mr Snowden's allegations that the US had hacked into networks in China.

Tuesday saw the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party praise Mr Snowden for "tearing off Washington's sanctimonious mask".
Continue reading the main story The Sheremetyevo airport transit area is Russian sovereign territory, but Russia says that in staying there, Snowden has not formally entered the countryLegally, an arriving air passenger may be said to "cross the border" only after clearing immigration, which would require an entry visaIf Russia allowed Mr Snowden to enter, it could implicate the state in helping a fugitive, analysts sayIt is thought Mr Snowden may be staying at a complex of 47 basic "capsule" hotel rooms located in the zoneIn a strongly worded front-page commentary, the overseas edition of the People's Daily said: "Not only did the US authorities not give us an explanation and apology, it instead expressed dissatisfaction at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for handling things in accordance with law.

"In a sense, the United States has gone from a 'model of human rights' to 'an eavesdropper on personal privacy', the 'manipulator' of the centralised power over the international internet, and the mad 'invader' of other countries' networks."

Mr Snowden's leaks have led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism.

US officials have defended the practice of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world.

They say Prism cannot be used to target intentionally any Americans or anyone in the US, and stress that it is supervised by judges.

20 May: Snowden flies from Hawaii to Hong Kong.

5 June: From Hong Kong, Snowden discloses details of what he describes as a vast US phone and internet surveillance programme to the UK's Guardian newspaper.

23 June: Snowden leaves Hong Kong on a flight to Moscow. He is currently thought to remain airside at Sheremetyevo airport.

From Moscow, Snowden could fly to Cuba, en route to Ecuador, which has said it is "analysing" whether to grant him asylum.

Venezuela had also been considered a possible destination for Snowden, however it is thought he would only pass through on his way to Ecuador.

Snowden is reported to have requested asylum in Ecuador, which previously granted haven to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in its London embassy.