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Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

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Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#151

Post by gambiting »

nfriedly wrote: post #105
tn890 wrote: post #102

I'm in the market for a dock/hub for my 16" MBP and I'm completely baffled by the lack of decent options. I just want the following 3 capabilities: - 100W PD - 4k60Hz (preferably through USB-C) - Gigabit ethernet I have not been able to find a _single_ docking station or hub that can check these 3 boxes :(

4k60 + gigabit is not possible without going up to Thunderbolt 3 - there isn't enough bandwidth otherwise. The best you can do is 4k60 + USB 2.0 (so a gigabit Ethernet connection would cap out at ~300mbps in practice.) See https://www.bigmessowires.com/2019/05/19/explaining-4k-60hz-... DisplayPort 1.4 changes this, but everything seems to be stuck on 1.2 100W is, of course, possible. I use a CalDigit USB-C Pro Dock w…

>>100W is, of course, possible.

I don't think it is. The dock itself uses quite a lot of power, that's why the highest you can find is about 85-90W. USB-C cables support max of 100W so I don't think it's physically possible to accept 100W and output 100W at the same time.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#153

Post by loopbit »

sitkack wrote: post #11
loopbit wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only for macs... I have 4 raspberry pi4 powered through an USB hub and spent quite a bit of time looking for one that had at least 4 ports and that every port could deliver a minimum of 5V-3A. The US amazon had a few, but trying to find them (or similar) in several european Amazons was quite difficult.

You have some model numbers handy? Which one are you currently using?

For amazon.com, there were a few from Anker (one was mentioned in another comment) that looked interesting... As I said, no luck finding them in europe.

I ended up going with this one: https://thepihut.com/products/anidees-6-port-smart-ic-usb-ch...

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#154

Post by TekMol »

calaphos wrote: post #104

For choosing the right product based on a list of spec requirements I can highly recommend the price comparison website Geizhals [1]. They offer an insane amount of filter options over a wide category of products. Want USB C hub with Power Delivery, Gigabit LAN, a card reader and at least 2 display options? Here are your options: [2]. Also works for Mainboards, TVs and a whole lot of other stuff [1] https://geizhals.…

This one is my favorite site of this type:

https://www.productchart.com

It has an awesome interface and covers the US and the UK.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#155

Post by usbcconfused »

Related question: a lot of these hubs have very short cords. Apparently usb c extension cords are not allowed by the usb c spec, but some users report generic female-male cables from amazon can do the job fine. Anyone have experience with this or know of caveats?

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#156

Post by Eric_WVGG »

nrp wrote: post #21
Eric_WVGG wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(why are there no “real” USB-C hubs? some say that it is due to the lack of the existence of a chip that Intel is going to release "any time now" for like a year now… others say that the power delivery requirements of USB-C make this really tricky)

USB-C hubs are on their way. A couple of IC makers now have parts supporting that, so products using them are in the development pipeline: http://www.genesyslogic.com/en/product_view.php?show=69 I'm actually currently developing one as well that has a unique twist to it.

Can't wait to see it! I'd love to be on your announcement list.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#157

Post by hinkley »

mmastrac wrote: post #4

Awesome work. Having just gone through this for my company, I'd recommend a few valuable bits of information: - Thunderbolt 3 support filter - Power delivery capability (usually 60W-100W if at all) Both of those are valuable for mac shoppers.

I was so pissed a year and a half ago when I realized that none of the hubs had a Thunderbolt pass-through. The new Anker 7 in 1 has a 'USB-C data' port. Given there's no claim or picture of video out, I'll bet that's all it does.

And the tail on these. It's almost always too short to make it useful to plug it into the back of a thunderbolt display.

I think the Thunderbolt 3 monitor I got recently is my last planned Thunderbolt 3 purchase. I'm not sure if I can hold out long enough for USB-4 to land, where hubs are expected to be hubs again. But barring lost or damaged equipment, I'm going to try.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#158

Post by vxNsr »

calaphos wrote: post #104

For choosing the right product based on a list of spec requirements I can highly recommend the price comparison website Geizhals [1]. They offer an insane amount of filter options over a wide category of products. Want USB C hub with Power Delivery, Gigabit LAN, a card reader and at least 2 display options? Here are your options: [2]. Also works for Mainboards, TVs and a whole lot of other stuff [1] https://geizhals.…

Seems like a great website for EU, does anyone know of something similarly detail oriented for US-based consumers?

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#159

Post by hinkley »

loopbit wrote: post #153
sitkack wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have some model numbers handy? Which one are you currently using?

For amazon.com, there were a few from Anker (one was mentioned in another comment) that looked interesting... As I said, no luck finding them in europe. I ended up going with this one: https://thepihut.com/products/anidees-6-port-smart-ic-usb-ch...

One of Anker's raisons d'être is high current USB ports, so I'd be shocked if they couldn't do 3A.

I did not realize they were not available in the EU though. It looks like they list on Amazon UK, not sure how helpful that is.

Re: Show HN: I built a website to better compare USB-C hubs found on Amazon

#160

Post by hinkley »

baybal2 wrote: post #152
crooked-v wrote: post #135

I want a USB-C hub that's just one USB-C in to multiple USB-C out. Why is that so impossible to find?

Type-C says that there can't be type-c hubs. Just wait for some Chinese OEM to work that around

USB 4 spec claims to solve this problem. I'm pumping the brakes on USB 3.1 purchases, but I dunno if the stars will align for my next laptop to have it.
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