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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

#141

Post by mobilemidget »

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.

Good HDMI capable usb-c hubs below 20 USD? Hmm, I cannot find anything similar priced in NL. I would prefer to have one that can do 2x HDMI as not all workplaces I sit have usb-c capable monitors. When I was checking a while back it seems to have a weird pricing gap between ones that have 1 or 2 HDMI outputs. More than twice the price.

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

#143

Post by Terretta »

maxsilver wrote: post #122
Terretta wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 H…

Sorry, to clarify, you technically can get enough bandwidth for 4k@60hz out of a USB-C port, but you have to abandon the data lanes for more DisplayPort lanes. (I.e, give up all of your USB 3.0 ports and gigabit ethernet or similar-speed ports). So, "adapters" can do it, but docks generally can't. https://www.bigmessowires.com/2019/05/19/explaining-4k-60hz-... has the specific technical details.

Yes, that link was in my top level post. :-)

And that’s why I’m linking to adapters that use two of the Macbook Pro ports.

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

#144

Post by nfriedly »

First up, nice job. This is awesome!

Here's a few filters off the top of my head that you might consider adding:

* Price

* DisplayPort ports

* Maximum power pass-through

* Is the ethernet port gigabit or just 100mbit ( e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y5N3YCD/ - You generally can't get 4k60 + gigabit without thunderbolt 3.)

You might also want to consider adding docks, or perhaps create a second website for those. (In my mind, the main distinction between the two is weather or not it has a built-in power supply - it looks like none of yours do.)

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

#145

Post by loopbit »

alias_neo wrote: post #82
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.

Any chance of a link? I'm looking good something to power a Pi4 cluster. Thanks

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

Have had it for a couple of months now with no issues.

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

#146

Post by kekub »

atombender wrote: post #55

Nice work. I miss the ability to filter by video support. I got this one [1] without reading the fine print, and it only supports 4K at 30Hz, not 60Hz. I'm actually still looking for a hub that will do 4K/60Hz HDMI/DP and power delivery (and preferably 1-2 extra USB-C ports), so that I can power my MacBook Pro with it, and have it deliver video to my external display, all while only having one cable going into the Ma…

I have bought this [1]. It costs around 40$, does PD at 60W, 4K Display Port, 2xUSB2 (due to bandwidth restrictions - for me this is fine as I have a time machine hard Drive and a USB mic attached) and 100MBit RJ45. I also bought a 1m USB-C extension cord, which makes it possible to completely hide the dongle under my desk. No issues with any of the ports so far. I would definitely recommend looking for DP instead of HDMI, because it seems to use less bandwidth. You can also get 2 DP 4k@60Hz with PD from the same vendor.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Multiport-DisplayPort-E...

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

#147

Post by Terretta »

chx wrote: post #109
Terretta wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 H…

Two 4k @ 60 Hz is either Thunderbolt (which is fine for Macs but has a price and I would rather buy like https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=38575 or https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=31261 instead of a noname company) or DisplayLink which is to be avoided at all costs. This hub is Thunderbolt as can be deciphered from "Does not support MacBook models with single USB-C port" (see https://support.apple.com/en-…

It doesn’t support macs with a single port because it takes two ports, uses each one. That changes the bandwidth calculator math.

This adapter was, I believe, also announced at CES 2020.

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

#148

Post by fwipsy »

Needs an option for total USB ports (including USB3 + USB2). Say someone has 3 hard drives, a keyboard and a mouse. Probably they would want at least 3 USB3 ports for the hard drives and at least 5 total, but would be just as happy with 5 USB3 as 3 USB3 and 2 USB2.

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

#149

Post by frosted-flakes »

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?

Yes, I don't care if they're just plain USB, no Thunderbolt or fast charging.

Every "hub" I've seen has maaaybe twl USB-C ports and two or three USB-A ports—which makes me think that USB-A will never die and we'll be stuck with both of them forever.

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

#150

Post by atombender »

kekub wrote: post #146
atombender wrote: post #55

Nice work. I miss the ability to filter by video support. I got this one [1] without reading the fine print, and it only supports 4K at 30Hz, not 60Hz. I'm actually still looking for a hub that will do 4K/60Hz HDMI/DP and power delivery (and preferably 1-2 extra USB-C ports), so that I can power my MacBook Pro with it, and have it deliver video to my external display, all while only having one cable going into the Ma…

I have bought this [1]. It costs around 40$, does PD at 60W, 4K Display Port, 2xUSB2 (due to bandwidth restrictions - for me this is fine as I have a time machine hard Drive and a USB mic attached) and 100MBit RJ45. I also bought a 1m USB-C extension cord, which makes it possible to completely hide the dongle under my desk. No issues with any of the ports so far. I would definitely recommend looking for DP instead of…

Thanks, but being USB 2.0 only isn't great. That's why I suspect a Thunderbolt hub is the only option.
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