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Which router to replace 2011 Apple Time Capsule

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I am using the Time Capsule with two AEX WiFi extenders for WiFi needs at home that also serves Dots around the home. Sonos is served via Sonos net, with a Boost and a WD My Cloud NAS wired to the LAN ports of the Time Capsule. This is all working fine, but I may have the opportunity to manage the logistics of replacement and one never knows how much life is left in the 2011 TC.
My question is what would be a good modern replacement for the Time Capsule with the following conditions:
1. International voltage range like Sonos kit.
2. Should be available in Best Buy stores in the US.
3. Should work as a drop in replacement for Sonos.
4. Should work as a drop in replacement for WiFi - either with the two AEX extenders at either end of a single floor apartment, or by not needing these.
5. If 4 is not likely, what extenders will have to be bought as well?

While I use the Time Capsule for Time Machine back ups, I can easily use a wired to Mac HDD to do this, so this functionality is not needed.

Airport Extreme would have been the obvious choice but for the concern that Apple have stopped development of the line since 2016.

Thank you!

Router

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pwtAnswer

Virtuoso

And the only reason to change is in anticipation of failure and the chance to get a router cheaper in the US than in India - at about half the price. On the other hand, the TC may even soldier on for a few more years, so there is that option to also consider.

Fwiw, my wireless network infrastructure also includes a Time Capsule (4th Gen) and an Airport Express (2nd Gen). Both have been easy to use and trouble-free, rather more so than the ISP-provided cable modem / router that is also part of the set up. Although Apple appears to have ended new product development for network equipment, it's still selling devices and I would expect a 3-5 year support window for significant security issues from the point at which a device is discontinued.

Not very exciting, I know, but I'd be minded to keep your exisiting devices if they are meeting your needs. I certainly have no urge to replace mine.

4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300

K

KumarAuthor

And no Raspberry type solutions please, I am not comfortable handling open circuit boards that come minus boxes!

Ken_Griffiths

Kumar,

I don’t have much personal experience in this area, but maybe the below will help...

Perhaps get rid of the time capsule and your WiFi extenders and look at a set of three or more Google WiFi Mesh units, which I think retail at around $99 each

See this video comparison too (and others) on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/DPm_yQlwFdY

K

KumarAuthor

Ken, thank you, I will research this further.

While I do, a question for you/others - do these make nice with Sonos? I ask because there are a few routers in the Sonos Hall of Shame.

Ken_Griffiths

As you are already running your devices on SonosNet, I don’t see you will have any issues at all, as long as you maintain WiFi channel separation.

ratty

You'd need to wire your BOOST to the LAN port on one of the Google pods. In mesh mode the Google kit introduces another router, in the first pod.

Ken_Griffiths

Also just to add to Ratty's comment, once you have wired your boost to one of the pods, you must then go around all your other Sonos devices and switch each one off and back on again... your system should then be all up and running with no issues... it’s that simple to switch things over when they are already running on SonosNet... (famous last words).

K

KumarAuthor

it’s that simple to switch things over when they are already running on SonosNet... (famous last words).

Lol; I do have the small "Let sleeping dogs lie" thought. But thanks, gents, this sounds like it will keep Sonos just as stable via Sonos net while perhaps doing a better job for the WiFi side of things. Or at least as good a one.

K

KumarAuthor

Also a question for Apple experts: even with development stopped will Apple continue to update the Extreme that they still sell, where this is necessary for protection from hacks/attacks? Or will it be left with more and more of its rear hanging out as time passes?

K

KumarAuthor

A couple of question on the Google kit:
1. I see only one LAN port, on the modem connected unit where the WAN port will have to be used as such for the modem. I suppose I can wire the Boost to it, and wire the WD NAS to the Boost with no change in music play performance? I don't use the NAS for anything other than as a document storage back up and for Sonos; it sees only occasional use in cut/paste mode for document back up storage. The Mac will "see" the NAS on the network as it does just now?
2. Do I have to worry about compatibility between the broadband service provider supplied modem and Google?

K

KumarAuthor

Gents, any comment about this with reference to Sonos net and keeping channels separate:
"Google Wifi is designed to adapt to that automatically. It does this by using a dedicated “sensing radio” to scan the surrounding wireless environment, work out which channels are least congested, and hop from one to the other to maintain a consistently strong signal."
Further, with these kind of mesh devices, might it now be better to use Sonos in WiFi mode and then not be affected by cross channel interference?

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