Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 75 posts

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#61

Post by toast0 »

reacharavindh wrote: post #55
crote wrote: post #19

GSM dongles simply aren't that popular anymore. Wifi access is near-universal, so the average consumer will pretty much never be without internet access - and their phone is a pretty suitable backup hotspot. The people who do need GSM-based internet - like surveyors or door-to-door people - are probably better served by tablets anyways, and definitely don't want to deal with a USB dongle. If they have to, they'll jus…

Considering that 5G is newer than 4G and all the carriers upgrading to pack their users into 5G, I thought it would be future-prood to get there instead of using 4G. Other than that, I dont really _need_ 5G for bandwidth or anything. I'll check out the 4G options then!

5G and 4G are supposed to be able to share spectrum in a more selective way; not sure if it actually happens, but a combo 4g/5g base station runs a single control channel for both, and assigns slots as either 4g or 5g. 2g/3g needed to have a whole block of spectrum assigned.

Doesn't mean 4g will never be turned off, but it makes it easier to keep it on.

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#65

Post by stephen_g »

fyhfuhfg wrote: post #46
stephen_g wrote: post #44

It's also annoying how hard it is to find good 5G enterprise modems. We have remote test sites, as well as backup internet for offices that are currently on 4G that I want to upgrade to 5G but it's hard to find. All I want is a 5G modem with an Ethernet port that will go to our existing routers. A lot of what I've found so far either has a lot of surplus features (routing, WiFi, etc.) which I will probably have to ju…

don't forget the firmware quality. google had to warn all pixel users recently to turn off modem because of a remote full control exploit on the cheap modem they used! it was the first late update to make it even more fun to pixel customers.

Very true. One of the sites I’ve inherited has an OEM branded unit that I can find for sale, but not find any manufacturer page or any new firmware. It’s been there for four or so years… Who knows what vulnerabilities havent been addressed… It’s pretty high on the list for replacement.

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#66

Post by kylehotchkiss »

I have a sense that once Apple figures out their own 5G/Wifi modem silicon, they will offer 5g connectivity from MacBooks within a 2-3 years of deploying it across the iPhone range. I also anticipate they'd offer their own data plans similar to how they do with the 5G iPad

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#67

Post by MayeulC »

ronyfadel wrote: post #15
MayeulC wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even better, USB tethering -- no Wi-Fi needed. At least on Android, it's very easy to enable. It's also a lifesaver when Wi-Fi drivers are unavailable on Linux, as you can use USB tethering, and use your phone as a USB Wi-Fi dongle.

That kills my MBP’s battery, as it would be charging my phone as well.

Interesting point, true.

These days you can control the charge direction from Android, that may work. On my phone, I can also use Acc (and AccA) to limit charge current/voltage, and possibly stop charging (I have to check whether it cuts the connection). Advanced charging controller requires root, though.

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#68

Post by MayeulC »

fyhfuhfg wrote: post #27
mritzmann wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> via Bluetooth too Wouldn't recommend, bluetooth has the disadvantage of being very slow.

i wrongly assumed BT5 would be ok sharing a 3G connection recently... oh how wrong i was. BT is pure garbage. after seeing the abysmal bandwidth i understood why every headphone becomes garbage when you start using the microphone channel. there's no hope for BT and it must go on favor of anything else from this century.

> i understood why every headphone becomes garbage when you start using the microphone channel

AFAIK, this is a codec issue, with most codecs not supporting bidirectional audio. IIRC, newer Bluetooth revisions tackle this.

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#69

Post by hayst4ck »

The 5g modem itself is expensive due to (I assume) licensing. Just look at the difference between a 5g iPad or not: $200 and the watch which is $100.

It's not just the part itself but its context. You are asking for engineering to spend time figuring out how to integrate that into a current (potentially hyper-optimized) design, supply chain management, lawers, etc.

Additionally, in terms of alternatives, phones almost universally tether, you can buy specific 5g devices that you can fit in your palm.

You can buy a phone battery for $30 and run your phone all day no matter how hot you are running your phone.

It's expensive and complex to implement and there are plenty of good enough easily attainable alternatives, I'm not sure why a company would implement a niche product like that.

Re: Ask HN: Why are there no 5G USB-C dongles for laptops?

#70

Post by seba_dos1 »

eptcyka wrote: post #28
mritzmann wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> via Bluetooth too Wouldn't recommend, bluetooth has the disadvantage of being very slow.

USB2 speeds are better, but not that much.

We're in 2023 though. I get about 1.6Gbps over my phone's CDC-NCM interface in iperf over USB 3.0.
Post reply on HN