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

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

#191

Post by oneplane » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:37 PM UTC

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…

Ironically, my older USB-A (2.0 and 1.1), HDMI and Ethernet cables and hubs all work fine, but every time I buy a new version (consumer/retail) there is always something wrong with them.

Bought a USB-A hub because I needed a few extra ports for low speed devices; didn't work... turns out all the D+ and D- lines had a very high resistance to the point there the USB protocol just wouldn't work. HDMI cable, didn't work for anything beyond 720p. Ethernet cable, didn't work beyond 100Mbit, turned out to be a crappy CCS/CCA cable, said copper on the packaging, had copper in the connectors. Cutting the cable showed it was just a clad cable and the ends were dipped so you can't see it in the connector.

And returning them, the replacements almost always had the same issue because it was a bad design in the first place and you just had to get lucky that you got the "least broken" one in the batch. It wasn't a price point thing either, all of them are just crap until you get to the "we cannot afford to shit on our brand name" products.

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

#192

Post by mdavidn » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:38 PM UTC

I tossed one of those Satechi adapters because it crashed my home network whenever I unplugged the laptop. Apparently its ethernet port would repeat any packets received, creating a network loop. (!!) Their tech support did not seem concerned and suggested I unplug power when not in use. So much for one plug.

I embraced the two-plug paradigm and now use an Anker USB-C adapter _without_ power pass-through. It has worked well with both Windows and Mac laptops. Admittedly, I would not notice if ethernet capped at 300 Mbps.

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

#193

Post by faeriechangling » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:38 PM UTC

This thread is why I use a separate laptop and desktop.

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

#194

Post by Gigachad » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:38 PM UTC

fivea wrote: post #63

Jhsto wrote: post #5

If you use a laptop with an external monitor, a better idea is to get a premium monitor which handles charging, video, and data transfer of USB devices connected to the monitor for you. This allowed me to get rid off the wonky USBC hubs, but before my employer got me a Dell monitor I didn't know that a single USBC connection can deliver all three.

> If you use a laptop with an external monitor, a better idea is to get a premium monitor which handles charging, video, and data transfer of USB devices connected to the monitor for you. I made this mistake, and I ended up with a grossly overpriced monitor which fails to charge a MacBook Pro and whose video through USBC support is hit-and-miss, in the sense that it doesn't always work.

Look for monitors which advertise thunderbolt and a charging wattage. If it still doesn't work then just return it since it's defective.

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

#195

Post by irth » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:39 PM UTC

I wonder what's inside the Pine64 docks.

https://pine64.com/product/pinebook-pro-usb-c-docking-deck/

I'm currently using the PinePhone USB-C dock with my Macbook but I don't think it has Gigabit ethernet, but I don't have a cable wired up to my room still so I mainly use it for HDMI and USB type A ports.

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

#196

Post by sarasasa28 » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:42 PM UTC

got a mbp 14" and I couldn't be fucking happier. it's like having a brand new 2015 mbp but with M1

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

#197

Post by Gigachad » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:45 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.

Because I don't use any of that stuff and don't care. I can plug my macbook in with a single cable and it charges and runs the display. I will literally never need VGA, e-sata, or firewire. I'd put just the aesthetics of the device over having useless ports.

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

#198

Post by physhster » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:46 PM UTC

thedougd wrote: post #145

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.

That would be Thunderbolt 3 or 4, I guess?

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

#199

Post by physhster » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:47 PM UTC

mst wrote: post #186

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.

There's a comment only visible via showdead from somebody who claims to be working in China and that the 8153 is actually fine except most of their employers' competitors mess up powering it properly, and it's a cheap enough chip to not be particularly happy when that happens. I have no means of verifying this, but it seems at least a plausible hypothesis.

I'm totally buying this. It's 2022, I am pretty sure Realtek knows how to make a reliable gigabitEthernet chip, and at the same time it's also possible that OEMs cut corners in power design.

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

#200

Post by djur » Mon, Apr 04, 2022, 11:48 PM UTC

Roritharr wrote: post #35

7 years ago I wrote a comment, dismayed about the coming USB-C insanity and was made fun of. Here we are. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9645013

The problem here isn't related to the standardized port and incompatibility between devices, though, is it? It's a matter of the functionality of the hardware in the peripheral, which has been an issue with USB hubs forever. Your comment is all about device compatibility, not devices being cheap and shitty.