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

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

#271

Post by 542458 » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:38 AM 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…

USB-A: there are so many crap usb-A cables around that either a) don’t charge b) don’t reliably send data or c) work, but with massive voltage drops leading to very slow charging.

HDMI: HDMI will silently degrade to lower versions of the spec over bad connections, so it might just be that the bad cables are invisible.

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

#272

Post by ben7799 » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:40 AM UTC

Bud wrote: post #174

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.

100% due to the crappy hubs. I have a gigabit connection and have been using the CalDigit TS3+ since it came out. Zero issues, zero problems with it stepping down to 100 Mbps or anything else. I have GigE plugged in, two monitors, two large disk arrays, sound, and usually a couple other random things. The monitors and all peripherals work flawlessly, wake flawlessly from sleep, etc. Every time I test the speed, it's…

I can back you up on that the TS3+ NIC is definitely quality.

But the TS3+ DisplayPort & Thunderbolt monitor support is flaky/buggy and breaks.

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

#273

Post by whichdan » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:41 AM UTC

I'm currently waiting to get a Dell UltraSharp 27" 4K U2723QE delivered. It's ~$630 and has a USB 3.2 Gen2 Hub:

- HDMI 2.2

- DisplayPort 1.4 Input

- DisplayPort 1.4 Output

- USB-C Upstream (PD 90W + DP 1.4 Alt Mode)

- USB-C Upstream (KVM)

- USB-C Downstream

- 5x USB-A Downstream

- Audio line-out

- LAN (RJ-45)

As far as I can tell it has the best connectivity and specs of any mainstream consumer monitor under $1k. It really doesn't feel worth it to spend $250-400 on a dock given the price point of these monitors.

It also doesn't have a power brick, which makes cable management a bit easier too.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-ultrasharp-27-4k-u...

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

#274

Post by logbiscuitswave » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:44 AM UTC

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #225

What's the ethernet chip in the Belkin USB-C-ethernet adapter? https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HJKF2ZM/A/belkin-usb-c-to...

I have a couple of these. It’s exactly what you would expect: Realtek RTL8153.

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

#275

Post by j_crick » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:46 AM UTC

jmyeet wrote: post #151

j_crick wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> All the ports you could possibly want. No HDMI.

True. Personally, I never use HDMI but YMMV. You can of course use a USB-C to HDMI cable however.

Ah, of course, but dongles >:

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

#276

Post by logbiscuitswave » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:49 AM UTC

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 the exact same issue from a Thinkpad docking station. A later firmware update for the dock seemed to fix this.

Was it ever frustrating though trying to figure out why my network would randomly decide to just crap out.

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

#277

Post by CharlesW » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:54 AM UTC

ben7799 wrote: post #267

CharlesW wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I notice plenty of people plugging the super expensive OWC and CalDigit Thunderbolt docks. These are also pretty junky, they just have big price tags. Having used actually-junky docks, a good one is worth the money. My TS3+ is in year 3 of consistent, rock-solid performance. Most of its ports are used all the time, the host computer never sleeps (I've used it with both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs), and I've never…

Apparently you just missed me saying my CalDigit TS3+ failed last week and IT had a whole bin full of others that failed. It's not the cables.. they handed me a new TS3+ and it immediately worked perfectly and it will probably continue to work for a year or two before starting the process of flaking out. To be honest with the # of them I've seen break (almost everyone I know at work) the posts here seem like astro-tu…

> Apparently you just missed me saying my CalDigit TS3+ failed last week and IT had a whole bin full of others that failed.

Nope, that's why I posted a counter-anecdote. Not one has failed in my circle of friends, I think they're ugly but the build quality seems pretty great, so I'm just surprised to hear about your IT department's bin of dead TS3+ that they keep around for some reason. (I can't speak for the OWC dock personally.)

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

#278

Post by c_o_n_v_e_x » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 2:58 AM UTC

Thunderbolt based products should almost always be better than USB. TB controllers are higher cost and there is a certification process for TB based products. One of the key values of TB is providing a consistent product that just works with other TB products. The downside of TB is that because of the higher costs, fewer manufacturers build TB based products.

USB and the ecosystem is a complete mess. The naming system is horrific (and it keeps changing retroactively). You've got different connector types with different revisions. Controllers and products that are selective on what part of the "standards" they will comply with. The aftermarket cable industry is shady. On top of all that, now you're adding in different power delivery levels.

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

#279

Post by gernb » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 3:00 AM UTC

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/

While I agree that's a great dock, IIUC, it's not technically a USB-C dock, it's a Thunderbolt dock. I know it's the same cable but IIUC it's not USB-C?

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

#280

Post by beilabs » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 3:07 AM UTC

I went a different way and purchased a 24" monitor which has the hub built in. Support for the standard display ports, USB / USBC and ethernet. I have one single USBC cable connecting to the laptop for power, ethernet and everything else. Seems like this is the way forward for me at least.