USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021) • Hacker News Board

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

#141

Post by j_crick » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:23 PM UTC

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…

> All the ports you could possibly want.

No HDMI.

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

#142

Post by orheep » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:26 PM UTC

I'm using a Kensington SD5700T and I have nothing but good to say about it.

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

#143

Post by fooey » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:27 PM UTC

What I want to know is why no one makes a plain actual hub for USB-C

Not a dock, I don't want video, I don't want ethernet, I don't want an sdcard reader, I don't need switching

All I want is a powered 1 to many USB-C hub. Maybe my google-fu is failing me, but I can't find this category of product and I don't know why.

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

#144

Post by hpb42 » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:27 PM UTC

Evidlo wrote: post #135

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.

I got a new laptop for work that has: 1 USB3 type A, 1 USB-C, 1 Thunderbolt4 in USB-C connetor, 1 HDMI, 1 audio jack, and 1 Power connector. No ethernet. My boss bought me a caldigit element hub to be able to connect mouse and keyboard... We were all disappointed when we realized there was not enough "normal" USB ports.

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

#145

Post by thedougd » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:32 PM UTC

physhster wrote: post #116

I have one of those Anker x-in-one hubs and it works well, minus the Ethernet which it capped at 300Mbps due to [checks notes] a USB 2.0 interconnection. Why?!? I ended up getting a separate sub $20 USB-C to Ethernet adapter from a random Amazon brand called Uni. Get full gig, every time despite it having a Realtek 8153 chip in it. So, there might be more to it.

Many laptops can't handle more than USB 2.0 when outputting display over the same port. Those that can need a certain protocol (too lazy to look up). There's a better protocol that allows both, but now you're in the $100+ range of hub/docks that can handle it.

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

#146

Post by snvzz » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:32 PM UTC

This seems ripe for some Maker to design a reliable alternative as OSHW.

I'd buy it in an eyeblink, from whatever shop the author prefers me to use.

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

#147

Post by whatever1 » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:33 PM UTC

whatever1 wrote: post #121

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/

What network controller does it have? Is it the same realtek ?

Replying to myself. From a tear down it seems like the TS3 plus version uses an intel network controller!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f6Zs1JyZBQ

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

#148

Post by thedougd » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:34 PM UTC

I have found that Macs are far less tolerant of USB-C devices than other machines. I have crap dongles that work with PCs, Chromebooks, even Chromecast and Nintendo's, but not correctly with a Mac. I've seen the same with Intel and M1 Macs.

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

#149

Post by spyspy » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:36 PM UTC

InTheArena wrote: post #16

drzoltar wrote: post #3

Sad to see Anker on the list. I used to think of them as a pretty reliable electronics manufacturer in a sea of low quality chargers and hubs.

I have their TB4 dock. It works well with a Intel mac. Not so well with a M1 mac. Might be a issue on the other end of the thunderbolt connector.

For what it's worth I have the Anker 777 I bought with my WFH budget and it's been fine with my M1.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0928W3XHD

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

#150

Post by loudthing » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 10:36 PM UTC

Interesting how slow USB-C adoption has been so far, which is a shame because the connector and concept are a great standard, but the implementation of various busses (Thunderbolt, PCIExpress), video adapters (Displayport, HDMI 2, 2.1), USB versions (trying to be inclusive of USB 1 through 3 and all its flavors) is maddeningly complex, and unappealing to the typical consumer.