Super Sticky Thread for USB-C Docks, Cables and Accessories [MERGED]

[Mike Boreham]

Got the Anker PowerPort5+ today. It has a USB-C port for charging your MacBook at full speed and four USB-A ports providing up to 2.4A each up to a total of 6A across the four ports.

I'm impressed!

Is this the one?: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-Android-Devices/dp/B0196JB1ZS

I can't see MacBook or Apple mentioned anywhere which seems a bit odd.

If you connect two HDs to it, will it transfer data between them reliably ? (another Anker, Minix and, based on one review, Hootoo do not)

 

[Brookzy]

link to wallpaper?

I've attached a copy, but I can't remember the source unfortunately.

Is this the one?: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-Android-Devices/dp/B0196JB1ZS

I can't see MacBook or Apple mentioned anywhere which seems a bit odd.

If you connect two HDs to it, will it transfer data between them reliably ? (another Anker, Minix and, based on one review, Hootoo do not)

No, it's this one. They are named similarly and look similar but only the one with the blue USB-C port supports the USB PD spec, which is needed for the MacBook.

There is no data transfer. It is purely a charger, not a data hub.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I have also tried the Anker three port hub, which initially seemed to do better than the Minix, but stopped abruptly after 2.9gb of a 13 gb folder while transferring.
However it did enable me to run an iTunes back up of my iPhone to an external Samsung T1 drive (iPhone and T1 connected to Anker). This was over 40gb no pauses.

Now have a Hootoo (model with 3xUSB+SD, but not HDMI). It works! I copied a 20Gb folder between two HDs connected to it, and it did it at USB 3 speed. Only reservation is that there was a pause at about 5Gb for 15 seconds, but it recovered and carried on.

 

[Louwen]

Anyone know of a dock, that are able to work with 2 monitors, as well as 2x USB and passthrough charging?

 

[noblex]

Now have a Hootoo (model with 3xUSB+SD, but not HDMI). It works! I copied a 20Gb folder between two HDs connected to it, and it did it at USB 3 speed. Only reservation is that there was a pause at about 5Gb for 15 seconds, but it recovered and carried on.

Can you provide me the model?
Does it have passtrough?

 

[Mike Boreham]

Can you provide me the model?
Does it have passtrough?

This is the model:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B2PBMBM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Note this is the version without HDMI. There is a near idemtical looking model with HDMI.

Not sure what you mean by pass through, but power passes through obviously, so the computer and attached devices receive power while it is plugged into the wall, but there is no USB-C socket into which you could plug another USB-C device.

 

[Mike Boreham]

This is the model:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B2PBMBM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Note this is the version without HDMI. There is a near idemtical looking model with HDMI.

Not sure what you mean by pass through, but power passes through obviously, so the computer and attached devices receive power while it is plugged into the wall, but there is no USB-C socket into which you could plug another USB-C device.

I need to modify my earlier enthusiasm, which was based on attaching two spinning HDDs to the HooToo and moving data. All seemed pretty good. I have just been trying two Samsung T1 which had partitions on. Problems! With only one attached everything seemed good, but when I attached the second the first unmounted improperly. After several attempts I realised I would have to treat the devices as not hot pluggable. However in the process of this testing I discovered one partition had been wiped.

I am afraid I don't trust the Hootoo with these Samsung T1s which I have had for a while and have behaved impeccably with my rMBP.

 

[Clix Pix]

I am still experimenting with my new rMB but I've found that, yes, my T-1 and my T-3 both work really well with the computer, whether plugged into the Apple adapter or (on the T-3, which has the USB-C port on it) simply using the USB-C cable which comes with the machine. I have not and probably will not be attempting to plug the two of them into the machine at the same time with a hub..... Fortunately, no need to do that since I have an rMBP with which this works just fine.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I am still experimenting with my new rMB but I've found that, yes, my T-1 and my T-3 both work really well with the computer, whether plugged into the Apple adapter or (on the T-3, which has the USB-C port on it) simply using the USB-C cable which comes with the machine. I have not and probably will not be attempting to plug the two of them into the machine at the same time with a hub..... Fortunately, no need to do that since I have an rMBP with which this works just fine.

This is pretty much where I am as well. I have not been able to fault the Apple hub, but of course it only enables one T1/T3, but I also have an rMBP for that when needed. On the road I won't need to connect two. I find that the T1 and T3 connect and mount more rapidly when plugged straight into the MB (via the simple Apple adapter for the T1) than when connected via the Apple hub. Via the Apple hub a second try is sometimes needed. I have a Maplins 0.25m USB-C to USB-C lead for the T3, as the 2m one supplied by Apple is a bit untidy for connecting the T3.

At this point I trust the Apple hub, but not the Anker, Minix or the HooToo hubs when using T1 and T3.

 

[noblex]

About powerbanks, how many mAh should I consider for a full MacBook 2016 recharge? I would like to get the lightest (in terms of weight) able to fully recharge the MB once (maybe fast enaugh to be able to use it while charging with the power banck).

If I'm not wrong, the rMB battery is around 5Ah and is charged at 15V and 2A.

 

[Mike Boreham]

About powerbanks, how many mAh should I consider for a full MacBook 2016 recharge? I would like to get the lightest (in terms of weight) able to fully recharge the MB once (maybe fast enaugh to be able to use it while charging with the power banck).

I'm I'm not wrong, the rMB battery is around 5Ah and is charged at 15V and 2A.

I have the Anker 20100 USB-C and very pleased with it. I haven't done any tests but based on 65% transfer efficiency then about 13,000 mAh will be available, so about 2.5 charges of the rMB. So if you could find a USB-C one rated at about 8,000 mAh it would be smaller, and charge the rMB once.

I confess I am a little hazy about the difference between a USB-C battery pack and a regular USB battery pack. The USB-C port is used for input to the battery pack and Anker say use the USB-A ports to charge the rMB, so that sounds like any battery pack ought to do it. I just played safe and got this highly recommended one.

 

[10-Dee-Q]

hi, so i just got my M5
and i've read all 22 pages of this topic, but still i can seems to find the answers,
i just need a dock/adapter that enable me to connect 2 USB 3.0 and have pass though capabilty for the USB-C macbook charger. and if possible an SD card reader as well, is there anything outthere that can work properly, and doesnt runn too hot ?
thank you so much.

 

[carestudio]

A quick review of the usb-c dock that can do display, usb 3.0, superdrive, ethernet, and laptop charging
http://crazydiamondstar.blogspot.com/2016/08/usb-c-dock-best-baymax-for-macbook.html

 

[itsmekb]

Yep I'm using this with a 2015 rMP, in conjunction with an HDMI->DisplayPort converter, it drives my 1440p monitor fine. When I first started using it sometimes the monitor would not wake when reconnecting the hub for a second time, however this problem seems to have gone away, I'm not sure why. Probably because I stopped fiddling with it

My only criticism is that the HooToo logo on the top is a light which is annoying in a dark room, turning it upside down fixes the problem well enough (providing you don't mind the USB ports facing to the rear).

Update: Did some more fiddling around. Found something very weird. The hub works fine when upside down, but when positioned normally the display will not wake when reconnected. Very odd indeed, will open a ticket with the manufacturer, see what's going on there.

What are you you using to convert HDMI to displayport? I didn't know that any adapters went that direction, it seems they all go Displayport to HDMI.

 

[gnatmm]

after just six months, here is my rMB desktop nearly as I would like to see it...I waited so long the caldigit, but now all is fine. 2G screen, USB 3.0 backup disk, an Aukey hub for miscellaneous and the RMB above it all.

 

[carestudio]

after just six months, here is my rMB desktop nearly as I would like to see it...I waited so long the caldigit, but now all is fine. 2G screen, USB 3.0 backup disk, an Aukey hub for miscellaneous and the RMB above it all.

Got mine too. It's a very durable aluminum USB-C dock for MacBook. It supports superdrive, a great bonus!

 

[fisherking]

hi, so i just got my M5
and i've read all 22 pages of this topic, but still i can seems to find the answers,
i just need a dock/adapter that enable me to connect 2 USB 3.0 and have pass though capabilty for the USB-C macbook charger. and if possible an SD card reader as well, is there anything outthere that can work properly, and doesnt runn too hot ?
thank you so much.

no sd card slot, but look on amazon. meanwhile this, below, and a tiny nonda usb3>usbC plug are all i need, and am pretty happy:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AFR8PW2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Macalway]

There are now some USB-C extension cables that actually work. Presently, the longest is only 3 feet. I just tested this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FM4ZWV0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's another one that probably works also:

https://www.amazon.com/Extension-TU...7_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MYYAHYMQ90RTNSKFZHEW

Note: to choose among these, the black (bottom) one apparently is a tight fit, and the top one is a looser fit.

 

[carestudio]

For those people who are having problem with Samsung T1/T3 through type-c hub, I think you need to get a powered hub or a dock that has enough power to drive these SSDs all together at the same time. I have done some tests, if I plugged in T1 and T3 in CalDigit USB-C dock, they both worked very well. If I plugged them to the bus powered hub, they failed right away. I think it's related to power or the quality of the type-c dock.

 

[Macalway]

For those people who are having problem with Samsung T1/T3 through type-c hub, I think you need to get a powered hub or a dock that has enough power to drive these SSDs all together at the same time. I have done some tests, if I plugged in T1 and T3 in CalDigit USB-C dock, they both worked very well. If I plugged them to the bus powered hub, they failed right away. I think it's related to power or the quality of the type-c dock.

Yes i've noticed this with a T1. It seems to be a power hog. (This is using the Apple HDMI + USB + pass through dongle.) Other USB SSD's worked but the t1 was intermittent or wouldn't work at all.

Oddly enough, since Sierra it now works ( I think... at least so far)

Another thing, the reviews of the T3 say it doesn't get hot like the T1, (or uses less power at some point)

It's good to see that the Caldigit works. I had a preorder (they actually charged me) for the small one. They had an ETA of 'this month' ,or something like that. After about 4 months I called and got a refund . I will say that the refund process was painless.

 

[carestudio]

was hoping to get a little brother from caldigit too. But after reading the article from this link http://crazydiamondstar.blogspot.com/2016/02/intermittent-drop-out-usb-thunderbolt.html and talked to caldigit team, I think the full size dock is a better choice for me.

 

[BondFancy]

Anyone know of a USB c hub that does ethernet and HDMI well? The Minix one seems to have too many issues from what I've read online.

 

[carestudio]

Anyone know of a USB c hub that does ethernet and HDMI well? The Minix one seems to have too many issues from what I've read online.

I like the Minix one but unfortunately they are very much like any other USB c hubs that has incorrect power budget design. Read this over http://crazydiamondstar.blogspot.com/2016/02/intermittent-drop-out-usb-thunderbolt.html
If you want USB, ethernet and HDMI, you should get a USB-C dock from caldigit or OWC. I have a caldigit one, both ethernet and HDMI work perfectly.

 

[BondFancy]

I like the Minix one but unfortunately they are very much like any other USB c hubs that has incorrect power budget design. Read this over http://crazydiamondstar.blogspot.com/2016/02/intermittent-drop-out-usb-thunderbolt.html
If you want USB, ethernet and HDMI, you should get a USB-C dock from caldigit or OWC. I have a caldigit one, both ethernet and HDMI work perfectly.

Looks great, unfortunately $150 is a little much. Hopefully when the new RMBP comes out the prices will decrease, or at the very least there will be more variety.

 

[Cougarcat]

Looks great, unfortunately $150 is a little much. Hopefully when the new RMBP comes out the prices will decrease, or at the very least there will be more variety.

I hope Apple releases a dock themselves with the new rMBP. It'll be overpriced, but at least it'll work reliably and look nice. I want something that'll drive a dual display setup, with one 4K monitor. Reading reviews of some of these docks are pretrifying me. I'm reading horror stories of fried rMBs.