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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

#91

Post by maxsilver »

Terretta wrote: post #86

Needs to filter whether it can show HDMI 4K at 30Hz or 60Hz. And related to that, for video, it’s possible to have 2 4K 60hz through or one or none. Also filter whether it’s one USB-C connects to computer or two USB-C connects to computer. With two USB-C connected to computer, can pass through more types of USB to accessories. Finally, it doesn’t show matches that I know are matches. // I buy these to test, but don’t…

> Needs to filter whether it can show HDMI 4K at 30Hz or 60Hz. And related to that, for video, it’s possible to have 2 4K 60hz through or one or none.

I don't think they'd bother, because none of these docks can do it. USB-C 3.1 inherently can't support a 4k@60hz display, due to bandwidth limitations. And it certainly can't run two of them.

You'd have to jump up to a Thunderbolt 3 dock for that sort of thing.

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

#93

Post by wmf »

maxsilver wrote: post #91
Terretta wrote: post #86

Needs to filter whether it can show HDMI 4K at 30Hz or 60Hz. And related to that, for video, it’s possible to have 2 4K 60hz through or one or none. Also filter whether it’s one USB-C connects to computer or two USB-C connects to computer. With two USB-C connected to computer, can pass through more types of USB to accessories. Finally, it doesn’t show matches that I know are matches. // I buy these to test, but don’t…

> Needs to filter whether it can show HDMI 4K at 30Hz or 60Hz. And related to that, for video, it’s possible to have 2 4K 60hz through or one or none. I don't think they'd bother, because none of these docks can do it. USB-C 3.1 inherently can't support a 4k@60hz display, due to bandwidth limitations. And it certainly can't run two of them. You'd have to jump up to a Thunderbolt 3 dock for that sort of thing.

USB-C 2.0 can support 4K60 (see deep dive above) so you can drive one good monitor if you don't need fast network or storage.

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

#94

Post by Terretta »

maxsilver wrote: post #91
Terretta wrote: post #86

Needs to filter whether it can show HDMI 4K at 30Hz or 60Hz. And related to that, for video, it’s possible to have 2 4K 60hz through or one or none. Also filter whether it’s one USB-C connects to computer or two USB-C connects to computer. With two USB-C connected to computer, can pass through more types of USB to accessories. Finally, it doesn’t show matches that I know are matches. // I buy these to test, but don’t…

> Needs to filter whether it can show HDMI 4K at 30Hz or 60Hz. And related to that, for video, it’s possible to have 2 4K 60hz through or one or none. I don't think they'd bother, because none of these docks can do it. USB-C 3.1 inherently can't support a 4k@60hz display, due to bandwidth limitations. And it certainly can't run two of them. You'd have to jump up to a Thunderbolt 3 dock for that sort of thing.

The Thunderbolt capable docks on Amazon are still listed as USB-C because consumers seem to think it’s all about cable shape.

That said, there are plenty of dual USB-C connector, dual HDMI 4K@60hz port, dongles designed for Mac on Amazon. I think this is the most recent addition:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RH9HF4R/

”Satechi Aluminum Type-C Dual HDMI Adapter 4K 60Hz with USB-C PD Charging — Stunning dual HDMI display with a convenient USB-C PD port to keep your setup up and running - all in 4K 60Hz resolution. ENGINEERED FOR 4K DUAL DISPLAY - features dual HDMI ports to connect two monitors for stunning, extended 4K 60Hz display. Requires a direct HDMI connection, will not work with VGA, DVI or Thunderbolt displays...”

By contrast, this is one HDMI 4K@60Hz and one HDMI 4K@30Hz:

https://smile.amazon.com/Satechi-Multimedia-Adapter-Gigabit-...

Includes the two 4K HDMI ports of differing refresh rates, USB-C PD 3.0 charging, Gigabit Ethernet, micro/SD card readers, and USB 3.0 ports, and also will not work with Thunderbolt.

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

#95

Post by soneil »

ebg13 wrote: post #78

Unfortunately this doesn't fix any of the confusing bullshit around USB versions and specs and port shapes. And it muddies the issue by mixing "3" and "2" with "C", which describe entirely different things. My first search looking for 3 USB-C ports brought up this behemoth: https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Adapter-VEOOVE-Samsung-Unive... 2 of the USB-C ports are USB 2.0? WTF is that. Nobody wants that.

And the third is just PD, no data. Searching for 2 ports is no better - they’re all one data plus one PD (with the exception of one that’s macbook-specific, so it can pass-thru two ports because it’s using 2 on the host).

It seems like it’d be more realistic to have a tick-box for “a usb-c port” and a tick-box for “a PD port”.

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

#96

Post by soneil »

loopbit wrote: post #9
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.

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.

> and that every port could deliver a minimum of 5V-3A.

For the pi, “at the same time” is what most hubs seem to miss - often they can supply 3A per port, but not ports * 3A overall. (60W on 6-10 ports is a typical config, so you can pull 12-15W per port, but not 6 * 12+ overall.

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

#98

Post by chx »

reiichiroh wrote: post #97

Have you posted this to the folks at /r/usbchardware ?

Oh hi! /r/usbchardware mod here.

I will talk to the other mods whether we want to endorse these. I personally would never encourage anyone to buy a non-certified device made by a noname company but the others might have a different opinion.

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

#100

Post by reiichiroh »

whatsmyusername wrote: post #50

When it comes to peripherals you should seriously consider all the options, discard everything, and just buy Anker because it's the best.

Blind faith in Anker by itself isn’t enough. It has North American customer service presence but there are a few times where its products aren’t much more than rebrands of the many, many other weird Shenzhen brands like TaoTronics, TronSmart etc.

Used to think Aukey, Satechi were in the same league as Anker but they’ve been shown to falsely show standards compliance as well as a being USB power non-compliant with some. Satechi has/had a lot of fake reviews powering its growth as well.

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