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USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

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Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#131

Post by ubercow13 »

shitlord wrote: post #110
jmyeet wrote: post #74

I've gone through a number of Thunderbolt docks over the last few years. I tend to prefer docks to hubs because you tend to use your laptop at several fixed positions, each of which might have 1 or more monitors, a network cable, accessories (eg keyboard, mouse, camera) and so on. It's easier to just plug in one cable from the dock to the Macbook that'll do everything including power it. A good example of this is the…

I also prefer docks to hubs, for the same reasons you mentioned. There are still some pretty big gaps which need to be addressed before we can use a single cable for everything. First, Mac OS still doesn't support DisplayPort MST. If you have two or more non-Thunderbolt monitors, you'll need to use more than one port. Second, many companies require their employees to use tokens such as Yubikeys, which are USB devices…

>If you have two or more non-Thunderbolt monitors, you'll need to use more than one port

Is this still true with TB4? TB4 docks can have 3 downstream Thunderbolt ports and afaik each of them can power a single DisplayPort display without MST being involved, and without the display having to be a 'Thunderbolt' display, which I think just meant that they had a TB3 hub in to allow daisychaining.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#132

Post by LocalPCGuy »

trauco wrote: post #61

The Satechi one creates "broadcast storms" [1] that messed up my home network if left it unplugged from the computer but powered on and with the ethernet cable connected. I have an Anker one now, I guess I should expect the same. I also have a Dell D6000, which is rarely reviewed but has been solid. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/an3nyf/pass_thoug...

I had similar issues with one of these USB-C hubs (not sure if it was Satechi or just a similar PCB inside) - just shutting the lid of my laptop was enough to cause it to start going nuts but only after the Mac actually stopped talking to the hub at all. That was a fun one to figure out, I'd lose internet some small period of time (but not always the same amount) after switching from my work Mac to my PC, both hardwired.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#133

Post by moduspol »

Nextgrid wrote: post #83

I wonder how much e-waste this USB-C bullshit idea generated. It's not even a one-off, "early adopter" problem, considering that even now it's hard to buy something that actually works and you have to churn through many attempts before getting lucky. In contrast, I can't remember the last time I bought a USB-A, HDMI or Ethernet cable/peripheral that didn't work, partly because those specs are self-contained and simpl…

I still get the same issue with HDMI cables when you want to do more than 4K (like 4K60 4:4:4) with a cable that's more than half a meter long. Cable length apparently significantly impacts throughput.

It's even worse on Amazon when a seller will list multiple lengths of the same cable, as there'll be reviews about how this works great for (e.g.) Dolby Vision on an Apple TV 4K, but that was for the short cable. That doesn't imply the longer version of the same cable will work for the same application.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#134

Post by npunt »

Nextgrid wrote: post #83

I wonder how much e-waste this USB-C bullshit idea generated. It's not even a one-off, "early adopter" problem, considering that even now it's hard to buy something that actually works and you have to churn through many attempts before getting lucky. In contrast, I can't remember the last time I bought a USB-A, HDMI or Ethernet cable/peripheral that didn't work, partly because those specs are self-contained and simpl…

Big picture, USB-C is set to considerably reduce ewaste given that more and more consumer electronics products are standardizing on it as a charging solution, eliminating custom chargers and letting manufacturers get away with not including a charger. This is likely to be accelerated by regulations in the EU. The last time we had this level of standardization was probably the AA battery. Not saying things are perfect (because they obviously aren't) but computers - and especially finicky docks and high performance cables - are just one part of a much much bigger market for USB-C.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#135

Post by Evidlo »

Why do people buy laptops that don't have this stuff already on it?

I run an engineering course and it's almost comical how often students have to set aside their $2000 Macbooks and use the desktop workstations because they forgot their dongles at home.

My Thinkpad has 6 USB ports (2 USB 3.0), SDCard, DisplayPort, VGA, ethernet and also e-sata and Firewire which I've never used.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#136

Post by generallee5686 »

watermelon0 wrote: post #95
TheNewAndy wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is missing Ethernet, which seems to be important to the author. Having heard positive things about caldigit, I got their USB-C Pro Dock and I get frequent screen blanking with my M1 Mac, and often some of the USB ports fail to work. I don't use the ethernet port, but I think it is a Realtek (so likely the same thing the author is complaining about) I have spoken to caldigit support and so far they have replaced th…

Does it have an audible coil whine? I've tested 5+ TS3 Plus docks, and all of them have a coil whine, which can be heard in a quiet room, without playing any music. Sometimes I like to work in silence, and the coil whine really bothers me.

I've had my ts3 for a couple years now. I just noticed a pretty bad coil whine on mine lately. I'm not sure if it's always been there and my environment's changed or the device just suddenly started making the noise.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#137

Post by cmckn »

TheNewAndy wrote: post #38
moritonal wrote: post #7

If you want a decent dock you have to spend a bit of money. I went through this pain before accepting the cost and buying a CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub[1]. Run's two 4k displays at 60Hz, any peripheral and charges my laptop. So good I bought a second. 1. https://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-4-element-hub/

It is missing Ethernet, which seems to be important to the author. Having heard positive things about caldigit, I got their USB-C Pro Dock and I get frequent screen blanking with my M1 Mac, and often some of the USB ports fail to work. I don't use the ethernet port, but I think it is a Realtek (so likely the same thing the author is complaining about) I have spoken to caldigit support and so far they have replaced th…

I got a thunderbolt 4 dock from Razer[0] that has all the bits and bobs (and it looks really nice). Almost bankrupted me, but as the GP says, this is just the reality at this point.

[0]: https://www.razer.com/gaming-pc-accessories/razer-thunderbol...

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#138

Post by paisawalla »

dervjd wrote: post #31

If you're purchasing something to use permanently at your desk, it's worth spending more for a Thunderbolt dock. Most USB-C hubs are total crap. You'll get far faster transfer speeds, more ports, charging (and at full speed), proper display output (dual 4K/60hz) and better components/reliability. The CalDigit TS3 Plus[1] is what I've used for several years - first with a 2019 Intel MBP and now with my new 2021 M1 Pro…

Their entire product line seems to be "currently unavailable" on Amazon.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#139

Post by [deleted] »

jmyeet wrote: post #74

I've gone through a number of Thunderbolt docks over the last few years. I tend to prefer docks to hubs because you tend to use your laptop at several fixed positions, each of which might have 1 or more monitors, a network cable, accessories (eg keyboard, mouse, camera) and so on. It's easier to just plug in one cable from the dock to the Macbook that'll do everything including power it. A good example of this is the…

[deleted]

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#140

Post by jeffbee »

Saris wrote: post #86
jeffbee wrote: post #17

How much of the ethernet problems are due to these hubs and how much is due to ethernet autoneg just sucking? On my mac mini with whatever ethernet hardware they use, the link randomly negotiates 10, 100, full duplex, half duplex, flow control on or sometimes off. It's all coin tosses.

A good NIC doesn't have any of those issues. It all comes down to their poor choices in what ethernet IC to use.

These Macs have Broadcom NICs so I'm not sure if it's quite as simple as buying reputable brands.
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