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

[deepakvrao]

Can someone recommend me some good USB-C to USB adapters that I can use which won't cause WIFI to die?

I have these Rankie ones but they disconnect Wifi here and there - https://www.amazon.com/Rankie-2-Pac...&qid=1538149935&sr=1-6&keywords=USB+C+Adapter

I use these. 6 months and no wifi issues. Never heard of wifi issues with USB adapters. Wonder why that happens.

Edit: Sorry, that is to micro USB, but I meant the same brand USB c To Reg USB

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Adapte...id=1538373614&s=Electronics&sr=1-9&ref=sr_1_9

 

[clutchm3]

I use these. 6 months and no wifi issues. Never heard of wifi issues with USB adapters. Wonder why that happens.

Edit: Sorry, that is to micro USB, but I meant the same brand USB c To Reg USB

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Adapte...id=1538373614&s=Electronics&sr=1-9&ref=sr_1_9

It happens with 2.4GHz more than 5GHz. Wonder if these are affected as well? Can you link the exact model you have? Thanks

 

[Alameda]

I still question why these docks and even my JumpDrive get so warm when in use. None of my USB-A devices do this but even my JumDrive gets hot when I use it with my MBPro with the USB-C to USB-A adapter. Even when not in use it makes my device very warm. If I were on battery only, the heat created has got to be taking a hit on the battery.

If they're getting warm, it means it's going to drain your laptop's battery faster. :-(

They get warm because of the chip(s) inside which have to convert between USB and HDMI, Ethernet, etc.

 

[Newtons Apple]

If they're getting warm, it means it's going to drain your laptop's battery faster. :-(

They get warm because of the chip(s) inside which have to convert between USB and HDMI, Ethernet, etc.

I believe I stated in my post about battery consumption.

I do not, still, understand why my USB-A jump drive does not even get warm and my USB-C jump drive gets so hot you really do not want to hold it in your hand.

 

[cool11]

It is a pity we lost magsafe.
But what about such a product?

https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Cool-C...ords=4smarts+gravity+cord+magnetic+usb+type-c

Could this be a good substitution?

 

[tofagerl]

It is a pity we lost magsafe.
But what about such a product?

https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Cool-C...ords=4smarts+gravity+cord+magnetic+usb+type-c

Could this be a good substitution?

No, that's a lightning port.

 

[LumbermanSVO]

Why does does it seem like every USB-C dock has a permanently attached cable, except for the the ones that are meant to mount flush with the laptop?

 

[fruitbat04]

Thank you. Caldigit say they have passed the findings to their senior engineers. I'll reply in the thread with the outcome. Hopefully there will be some kind of firmware update that resolves.

Am not super impressed by their support. They were initially responding quickly to the issue, but having provided them all the evidence of how to recreate the problem I heard nothing for a month, sent a chase email 10 days ago and still nothing

 

[Alameda]

Why does does it seem like every USB-C dock has a permanently attached cable, except for the the ones that are meant to mount flush with the laptop?

Because the signals are extremely high speed, and it’s much less difficult to support that speed over a fixed cable than over a connector/variable length cable.

 

[davidec]

https://www.belkin.com/au/p/P-F4U093/
I've got this guy and on my second unit (same behaviour) from Belkin which I use with my 2018MBP. It's all good save for the fact that it randomly stops passing through power which means my MBP stops charging. I have to power cycle the Belkin and then un plug and plug a few times to get it charging again. It's particularly bad if I also have my Lacie rugged plugged in to it. Shame as it is a great hub but the unplugging / plugin / stop charging thing is really annoying. Anyone else having these issues with it?

 

[tm0000]

I need some help, please.

I need to be able to connect 2 external hard drives to a 2018 MBP at the same time without cutting off the internet.

The following DO let me connect 2 external hard drives but they interfere with the internet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077FY7831/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CKR8DXJ/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A21TE5CLHZDYA7&psc=1

There are many usb c hubs available on amazon (that don't cut the internet)... but they can't handle 2 external hard drives at the same time.

Can someone please help! I'm sure there has to be a solution! Someone here recommended a powered usb hub but I can't seem to find one.

P.S. It would be great if the product had an sd card reader as well!

Thank you very much!

 

[KhunJay]

The following DO let me connect 2 external hard drives but they interfere with the internet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077FY7831/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Theres another by the same company that claims to have some shielding in it to avoid wifi interference. Check the 5th picture listed on the left.
I ordered those....they had better work.

rbolt-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B07CVX3516/ref=pd_bxgy_147_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07CVX3516&pd_rd_r=6cabbfdb-e2ab-11e8-8349-9126162516c7&pd_rd_w=KVmGa&pd_rd_wg=BFdg5&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=EAB3M6CFJ0E0KAE54C8A&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=EAB3M6CFJ0E0KAE54C8A

 

[Alameda]

I need some help, please.

I need to be able to connect 2 external hard drives to a 2018 MBP at the same time without cutting off the internet.

The following DO let me connect 2 external hard drives but they interfere with the internet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077FY7831/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CKR8DXJ/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A21TE5CLHZDYA7&psc=1

There are many usb c hubs available on amazon (that don't cut the internet)... but they can't handle 2 external hard drives at the same time.

Can someone please help! I'm sure there has to be a solution! Someone here recommended a powered usb hub but I can't seem to find one.

P.S. It would be great if the product had an sd card reader as well!

Thank you very much!

I looked at the teardown, and the WiFi module is placed at about the location of the J or I keys. So using the left-side USB connectors may reduce interference slightly compared to the right side.

 

[RustyFox]

Little bit of a neewbie to the world of USB-C, so can I just check I'm understanding things correctly.

I've just ordered a MBP 13" and am moving to it from an old Air 11", and am trying to work out what docks/cables etc I need. Mouse/keyboard are no issue as I have the Apple wireless ones.

I have a display that currently connects to my Air with a DisplayPort cable (directly into the Thunderbolt 2/MiniDisplayPort slot on my Air). I also have a very basic USB adapter that plugs into my Air which has an ethernet cable and 2 USB devices plugged into it.

Am I right in thinking I should be able to buy 1 USB-C hub that all of those plus my charger cable can plug into? (i.e. 1 hub that takes my display cable, ethernet cable, power cable and USB devices). If so, any recommendations?

Also, will the USB-C hub likely have a MiniDispayPort connection, or would I need to buy a dongle to convert MDP to USB-C (or something else)?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Alameda]

Most USB C hubs that I've seen only have HDMI for connecting a monitor, though you can use a cable to adapts that to another connector type. Docks are a different story, those are more likely to have DisplayPort or other connectors.

Here's the problem: I have a 4K60 monitor.
To use 4K60 with my older MacBook Pro, I purchased a MiniDP-to-DP cable, and I get 4K60.
But with the new "allegedly-improved" MacBook Pro with USB Type-C, (thank you, jerks in Cupertino) I need to buy a NEW USB Type-C to DisplayPort cable.

I have a USB Type-C to HDMI dongle: Only 4K30. No DisplayPort.
I have a USB Type-C "Nucleum" hub with HDMI and a bunch of other connectors: Only 4K30. No DisplayPort.

I think the problem is bandwidth: They can't deliver 18 Gb/sec and also anything else that's useful. But even the direct Type-C to HDMI adapter doesn't seem to support 4K60. Grrr... I checked Kingston's website and their "spec" says HDMI 4K. It doesn't say 4K30 or 4K60. Guess they wanted to pull a snowjob on all their customers; of course none of us would buy a 4K monitor and want 30 fps.

 

[Jeff_42]

Here's the problem: I have a 4K60 monitor.
To use 4K60 with my older MacBook Pro, I purchased a MiniDP-to-DP cable, and I get 4K60.
But with the new "allegedly-improved" MacBook Pro with USB Type-C, (thank you, jerks in Cupertino) I need to buy a NEW USB Type-C to DisplayPort cable.

I have a USB Type-C to HDMI dongle: Only 4K30. No DisplayPort.
I have a USB Type-C "Nucleum" hub with HDMI and a bunch of other connectors: Only 4K30. No DisplayPort.

I think the problem is bandwidth: They can't deliver 18 Gb/sec and also anything else that's useful. But even the direct Type-C to HDMI adapter doesn't seem to support 4K60. Grrr... I checked Kingston's website and their "spec" says HDMI 4K. It doesn't say 4K30 or 4K60. Guess they wanted to pull a snowjob on all their customers; of course none of us would buy a 4K monitor and want 30 fps.

A ThunderBolt3 dock like this should be able to do that.
http://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-3-dock/thunderbolt-station-3-plus/

 

[Alameda]

A ThunderBolt3 dock like this should be able to do that.
http://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-3-dock/thunderbolt-station-3-plus/

Only $300 to plug in a monitor that I could attach to my last MacBook Pro with a $10 cable. Ingenious. Those guys at Apple just can't stop innovating, can they?

I think I can buy a direct USB Type-C to DisplayPort cable, which appears to be the ONLY sub-$300 solution for attaching a 4K60 display to the USB Type-C MacBook Pros.

 

[Lioness~]

Best multiport usb-c docks to the new MacBook Air?

There isn't any matching in gold yet, huh?

 

[Jeff_42]

Thanks for that.

Is there a consensus 'best USB-C hub' at all then, or a shortlist of what's regarded as best?

My requirements are basically:

• Must have Power Delivery for MBP 13"
• Must have a way of connecting display (HDMI or DisplayPort, my screen has both)
• Must have at least 3 USB slots (2 for permanent, 1 spare for flash drives etc)
• Ideally an ethernet, but could use a USB adapter if necessary
• Ideally not too short a cable as I'd rather it sat about 50cm away from where my MBP does

I'm also definitely not looking to spend several hundred here on some of the fancy docks etc I've seen, I'm looking for something that's less than $/£100.

EDIT: Something I just though of, I currently have a USB hub that plugs into my current MacBook Air, could I just plug this into a USB C hub and it still work normally? If so that's something I'll quite possibly do as it works well for me and includes an ethernet port. So then all I'd be left with needing on a USB C hub is one USB port for my old hub, a Power Delivery port and an HDMI/DisplayPort.

Mine has those first 3 requirements, though the cable on it is approximately 14cm. I don't think I've seen any with a cable length near 50cm, but I haven't looked recently.

 

[RustyFox]

Mine has those first 3 requirements, though the cable on it is approximately 14cm. I don't think I've seen any with a cable length near 50cm, but I haven't looked recently.

Ah ok thanks. I see on Amazon you can buy USB C extension cables (i.e. it has 1 male end and 1 female end), is that OK to do or does it affect performance etc?

 

[lukilook]

Hello Folks!

I need help, I'm looking for something like this:
https://www.samsung.com/pl/memory-storage/usb-3-1-flash-drive-fit-plus/MUF-256ABEU/

It must be FIT and on USB-C port for my MBP'13 2017.

Best!

 

[Lioness~]

Best multiport usb-c docks to the new MacBook Air?

There isn't any matching in gold yet, huh?

Ended up buying this.

 

[b1055]

As the title suggests, I am looking for a usb c hub that allows for data pass through on a USB C port. So far all the hubs ive tried only allow power on the usb c ports. I need one for the Macbook (one USB C Female input)

Ive tried searching the forum but have not found this solution.

 

[RustyFox]

Thinking after all I might just plump for a proper dock, but can't afford more than £200 so that rules out things like the CalDigit TS3. Does anyone have any advice about either of these:

Dell: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-Docking-Displays-130-Watt-452-BCYT/dp/B072K6HJBN/ref=sr_1_3?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1542280961&sr=8-3&keywords=dell+usb+c+dock&refinements=p_76:419158031

CalDigit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LXJ0ON4/ref=psdc_430482031_t5_B07CVMV8VC

Plugable: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078WXTYTW/ref=psdc_430482031_t2_B076J3MHZX

My personal preference is the CalDigit one, but it'd be great to hear anyone's opinion on them. My display is only 1080p so 4K etc isn't a concern for me by the way.

 

[tofagerl]

I'm kind of looking myself. I have a Belkin TB2-dock, which was really expensive and very nice with my old computer, but which now makes me turn the main external display on and off 5-20 times to get the right resolution. It's connected through an Apple TB3->TB2 adapter. I think both work fine on their own, but together they're like a bad relationship that's bound to end in divorce, so I might as well upgrade.