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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)

#491

Post by robotnikman »

culopatin wrote: post #431

Since the author only shares complaints and no solutions, I figured I’d share an option. I’ve been using an HP Thunderbolt G2 dock with my M1 Pro and I get a 95% success rate. The 5% failure rate is, I suspect, linked to my LG monitor more than the dock itself. I get some flickering sometimes that is resolved by restarting the monitor or restarting the dock. Happens 1 in 20 connections maybe. I also use the monitor w…

Seconded on the HP G2 dock, but with Windows laptops.

I use it to switch between my work and home laptops, and it has worked without issue. Currently running 3 monitors with it (2 1440p 1 1080p), gigabit ethernet, and at least 5 usb devices.

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

#492

Post by qwezxcrty »

philwelch wrote: post #426
G3rn0ti wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The inescapable consumerism is sickening. Well, where do you buy USB hubs in a world w/o capitalism and consumerism?

Communist China, just like we do in this world.

But the real China is full of capitalism and consumerism. Unfortunately, there is no place for communist in this world.

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

#493

Post by lliamander »

slipheen wrote: post #489
lliamander wrote: post #484

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's awesome! That monitor is a 38" 3840 X 1600 display, right? What do you think of it overall?

(I am not the poster you were replying to) - I wanted to add that I have the 40" 5K2K version (U4021QW) and I'd recommend it very highly. I do the same input switching he mentioned, and it works very reliably. It also has support for pbp mode, where it can display each computer on a portion of the screen.

That is also a model I've looked at very closely. Good to know that it can do that!

Currently I have a 34" 3440 x 1440, and with two separate docking stations (one for each laptop) and a USB hub for my peripherals that is connected to both docking stations. It's a lot of extra mess on my desk that ideally I would like to cleanup with having everything connect directly to the monitor.

BTW, how is the resolution on the 40"? Can you use it with native resolution, or do you have to do any scaling? Having all of that extra screen real estate would be awesome

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

#495

Post by thedougd »

avidiax wrote: post #220
thedougd wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You are thinking about USB-C Alt Mode, which is a way for displayport to go over USB-C. To get 4k60 + USB3.1, you either need USB-C Alt Mode with DP1.4+ (supported by almost zero monitors), or Thunderbolt-3 (supported by fantastically expensive monitors). It's much more economical to live with USB2.0 for your keyboards and mice, and get a separate USB3.1 hub if you need that. https://www.bigmessowires.com/2019/05/19/…

Thank you.

I was originally hoping to have gigabit Ethernet on the same monitor hub, but settled on the 300mbps actual throughout USB 2.0 allowed. At least it provides reliable low latency.

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

#496

Post by olyjohn »

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #52
olyjohn wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've dealt with a number of these docks. And yeah, it's a Realtek NIC on them, and it's a total piece of crap. Endless issues with these docks, firmware updates, new drivers constantly... None of it ever helps. I tried using it on my Mac. But it's on some kind of an Apple blacklist and won't work on Macs. There was some way to enable it, by turning off system protection or some shit... But even then, you could not ge…

I have never gotten the TB16 to work on anything other than Dells of around the same era. I don't think it's Apple blacklisting it, but rather the dock whitelisting things.

No when you plug it into a Mac, it literally says "Unsupported" in the system report and will not work. When I got it partly working at one point, I had to edit some kind of system file that basically allowed the device to be used. And it still didn't work well.

Quick Google Search. This is what I used to get it working, as much as one can consider it "working" https://github.com/rgov/Thunderbolt3Unblocker/releases

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

#497

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

moffkalast wrote: post #405
SOLAR_FIELDS wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m with you on this. I’m a FAANG software engineer who does hardware stuff too and I have a 2020 MacBook Air with 2 (two!) USB-C ports. One for charging, one for other stuff. In my two years of owning the device I have not once ever been frustrated needing the third port. I do quite often use both of the two ports, but even needing three seems to never happen in my use case. I don’t use external monitors with that d…

You seriously never needed to plug in a plain common USB-A flash drive or any other peripheral? Or flash an sd card or anything of the sort? Interesting.

Yes, but so rarely does that use case actually happen. It has been fine with a dongle and not ever been a space issue. I carry a USB-C to A dongle with me at all times wherever my laptop goes. It basically lives with the laptop. Works just fine for every use case I have and it’s often the thing taking up my second slot. A bit annoying, but a fact of life. All SD card stuff happens on my desktop - anytime I need an SD card to connect to a computer I’m always at home - I’ve never once had that requirement on the go. External keyboards just don’t get used at all - I paid a bunch of money for a nice keyboard built into my portable machine, in fact one of the reasons I purchased the 2020 MacBook Air was because they got rid of the butterfly keyboard - so I don’t really use external peripherals with it.

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

#498

Post by stonecharioteer »

microtonal wrote: post #327
icelancer wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, a perfect example are all the people in this thread recommending Thunderbolt devices while a bunch of us sit here and type away on our Ryzen or Threadripper powered machines. USB-C has been such a massive disappointment.

I have a laptop that is powerful as a Ryzen 5x00, which is quiet and uses very little power. I can take it with me in my backpack and hook it up to my three workspaces by plugging one Thunderbolt over USB-C cable. (I use a Startech Thunderbolt Dock, which hasn't had any issues, except the dislikable Realtek NIC.) I don't want to go back to the workstation tower life. Unfortunately, I still have to keep around a Ryzen…

What do you mean Thunderbolt over USB-C. You can find converters? Link me please Senpai.

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

#499

Post by Forgeties79 »

stormbrew wrote: post #288

I got tired of dealing with the fact that every one of these "do everything in one box" docks are a mixed bag of variously questionable components and just bought a "pure" tb4 hub[1], which is a thing that exists now but didn't really before. It's a lot nicer to be able to just pick the usbc or tb components I need plugged into it rather than have to take shitty NIC 1 because DP transcoder 2 is good. I also bought us…

Wow I needed this really badly. Thank you!

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

#500

Post by Forgeties79 »

fooey wrote: post #143

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.

I think this guy found exactly what you need https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30914972
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