I hate dongles next to my MacBook. USB-C extension cable?

[ParanoidDroid]

Yeah, yeah! USB-C is great... one cable to rule 'em all, right? But why does it have to be so damn short? All comparable USB-C dongles/hubs on the market have one common problem: a laughable cable stump!

I am looking for a reliable USB-C extension data cable, male-to-female, to move the ugly Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport adapter further away from my MacBook and hide it e.g. behind a monitor.

I know that the length specs for a USB-C data cable are limited to 1 meter. So, why on earth (literally) are there no working USB-C extension data cables available yet? What seems to be the problem?

HP managed to ease that problem slightly for my Elite x2 with a decent cable length on their USB-C dock (via Thunderbolt 3), but there are no comparable solutions for the MacBook on the market so far, not even a simple extension cable!

HP Elite USB-C Docking Station
http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-elite-usb-c-docking-station

I really don't want to buy an USB-C monitor yet, which would be the only known and working solution for now. So if anyone did somehow find a working USB-C extension cable, please share the shop link!

 

[deeddawg]

Give this a try and let us know how it works: http://usbfever.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17_301&products_id=2709

I've not decided on what I want out of a hub yet (and haven't really had a real need) so I've not yet needed to try it myself.

Alternately: with the OWC dock you use a male-to-male USBC cable and thus don't have the same pigtail issues you do with others. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/usb-c/owc/usb-c-dock

 

[KPOM]

HP managed to ease that problem slightly for my Elite x2 with a decent cable length on their USB-C dock (via Thunderbolt 3), but there are no comparable solutions for the MacBook on the market so far, not even a simple extension cable!

HP Elite USB-C Docking Station
http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-elite-usb-c-docking-station

Is that a Thunderbolt 3 dock or a USB-C dock? If it is the latter, in theory it should work with the MacBook. Nothing on the HP website says it is Thunderbolt 3.

 

[irishv]

Yeah, yeah! USB-C is great... one cable to rule 'em all, right? But why does it have to be so damn short? All comparable USB-C dongles/hubs on the market have one common problem: a laughable cable stump!

I am looking for a reliable USB-C extension data cable, male-to-female, to move the ugly Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport adapter further away from my MacBook and hide it e.g. behind a monitor.

I know that the length specs for a USB-C data cable are limited to 1 meter. So, why on earth (literally) are there no working USB-C extension data cables available yet? What seems to be the problem?

I agree completely. The only hub I've found that doesn't have an integrated cable is the OWC one. There are a couple extension cables available on eBay or the one linked above, but I've yet to see anyone say they work. Someone here mentioned that extension cable go against the USB-C spec (although I haven't seen that confirmed anywhere).

I have the OWC dock, but unfortunately it doesn't work with my Apple Cinema display (23" DVI). Note that it has a separate cable, but the Apple supplied one will not supply power and data. If you want one longer than the OWC provided one, you'll need to get one rated for USB 3.1.

 

[ParanoidDroid]

Is that a Thunderbolt 3 dock or a USB-C dock? If it is the latter, in theory it should work with the MacBook. Nothing on the HP website says it is Thunderbolt 3.

The HP Elite x2 has Thunderbolt 3, thus I can drive two external monitors with it and additional peripherals. It works well with the Elite x2, but when I connect the HP USB-C hub with my MacBook only USB ports and charging work. External displays and obviously the Ethernet won't work at all.

I have the OWC dock, but unfortunately it doesn't work with my Apple Cinema display (23" DVI). Note that it has a separate cable, but the Apple supplied one will not supply power and data. If you want one longer than the OWC provided one, you'll need to get one rated for USB 3.1.

OWC looks like a decent solution. I have been disappointed with 3rd party hubs so far. Only the Apple's "USB-C Digital AV Multiport adapter" works reliably. The Minix was a disappointment, HDMI did not work with DVI-D displays. HooToo is too big.

Why does the OWC hub not work with the Apple monitor? Did you also try the Apple adapter?

 

[KPOM]

The HP Elite x2 has Thunderbolt 3, thus I can drive two external monitors with it and additional peripherals. It works well with the Elite x2, but when I connect the HP USB-C hub with my MacBook only USB ports and charging work. External displays and obviously the Ethernet won't work at all.



OWC looks like a decent solution. I have been disappointed with 3rd party hubs so far. Only the Apple's "USB-C Digital AV Multiport adapter" works reliably. The Minix was a disappointment, HDMI did not work with DVI-D displays. HooToo is too big.

Why does the OWC hub not work with the Apple monitor? Did you also try the Apple adapter?

The Ethernet is a driver issue. There's no technical reason why the USB-C port in the MacBook couldn't drive USB and Ethernet. That said, I'm sure HP is in no rush to write macOS drivers.

 

[irishv]

Why does the OWC hub not work with the Apple monitor? Did you also try the Apple adapter?

Pretty sure it's an HDCP handshake issue going from USB-C to HDMI to DVI. That said, the mono price USB-C to DVI adapter with Ethernet had the same problem. The display is detected but flashes every 3 or 4 seconds.