Thunderbolt Hub with Ethernet for Big Data Transfers Recommendation?

[mkitchen]

So I am new to thunderbolt on a computer (I currently have M1 AIR) coming from my old 2015 MacBook Pro. I bought a TOTU dock with card reader and ethernet port. I finished a film shoot and went to do my media dump to my NAS, but I keep getting transfer errors after so many minutes of transferring. It will work for like, I dunno... 10-30 Gb and then randomly fail. I will come back to the comp, I have to unplug the dock, replug and start again. Pretty infuriating when you are trying to transfer several hundred gigs.

I am hoping the dock is just not a good one and that this is not a shortcoming of the M1 AIR.

Has anyone used a dock with Ethernet that has transferred hundreds of gigs of data uninterrupted on an M1? Bonus if it has a card reader that lets you transfer straight from the card as well. Thanks!

 

[Deccr]

I haven’t tested the Ethernet port that extensively but I have the CalDigit TS3+ which comes highly recommended as a reliable thunderbolt hub.

It includes ethernet, USB-A, USB-C and a SD-card slot (along with a few other ports).

TS3 Plus | Thunderbolt 3 Dock – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

Anker also make a similar dock which also includes a micro-SD slot, along with a full size SD slot.

Anker

We created Anker® to make the smart life simpler; tackling first-world problems like low battery and slow data access to make life better.

www.anker.com

 

[TrueBlou]

Well now, the first thing to ask would be, do you have a budget in mind? Also, are there any other features in particular that you’d quite like the hub to have? Portable or desktop? That sort of thing.

I’ve had a fair few, but prices can range from tens, to several hundred. So it’s always good to pick a budget first.

 

[pldelisle]

OWC, Belkin, Calldigit, Elgato are usually the recommended Thunderbolt docks brand/manufacturer. I've never heard of TOTU, which likely seems Chinese made cheap dock ...

 

[mkitchen]

Well now, the first thing to ask would be, do you have a budget in mind? Also, are there any other features in particular that you’d quite like the hub to have? Portable or desktop? That sort of thing.

I’ve had a fair few, but prices can range from tens, to several hundred. So it’s always good to pick a budget first.

Desktop, and under $200 I would say, but I would pay more if it is good, robust, and reliable. I would like ti to have Ethernet, SD card, and USB (not c).

 

[pldelisle]

Desktop, and under $200 I would say, but I would pay more if it is good, robust, and reliable. I would like ti to have Ethernet, SD card, and USB (not c).

OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock for M1 and Intel Macs and Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) PCs

Add three Thunderbolt ports, 4 USB ports, along with Ethernet, audio, and card reader functionality to your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac or Thunderbolt 4 PC.

eshop.macsales.com

Ships mid-January. Best dock I know.

 

[mkitchen]

After reading some reviews from your guys' recommendations it seems like that Caldigit TS3 is the best. I guess I will try that one.

 

[pldelisle]

Good choice. You won't be disappointed.

 

[TrueBlou]

After reading some reviews from your guys' recommendations it seems like that Caldigit TS3 is the best. I guess I will try that one.

Yup, definitely a good choice, I very much doubt that you’ll be disappointed with it.

 

[Meatsuit]

MacBook Air M1 and Caldigit TS3+

Anyone else notice any issues with their TS3+ connected to the new M1 based Macs? My Air is connected and the Display, Mouse, Keyboard, Audio all seem to be working fine but the Ethernet connection through the TS3+ is not. In the Network control panel it shows the Thunderbolt bridge as...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[ibash]

Are the transfers to your NAS resumable? If not you might want to look at something like rsync

 

[Meatsuit]

I would go with OWC. 2 year warranty, 4-TB4 ports, and customer service.

 

[satinsilverem2]

I have been using a TS3 for three years now and it hasn't had a single issue. I use the ethernet port for my sole connection to my NAS and transfer about 200-300gb of data per day on and off it and its never had an issue. I highly recommend it.

 

[Meatsuit]

TB3 Plus not M1 compatible....yet
Would hold off on this one. Alpine Ridge controller getting kinda old for a new M1.

macOS – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

 

[jasonmvp]

TB3 Plus not M1 compatible....yet
Would hold off on this one. Alpine Ridge controller getting kinda old for a new M1.

This isn't correct. It's compatible with the M1 Macs. The firmware update tool that CalDigit released (over a YEAR ago!) isn't. But the odds are pretty good that any new TS3+ purchased will have the new firmware already installed.

The other link you posted is just a couple of people not understanding how to get their Ethernet ports working. It's not at all indicative of a problem with the dock.

 

[joevt]

TB3 Plus not M1 compatible....yet
Would hold off on this one. Alpine Ridge controller getting kinda old for a new M1.

macOS – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

What's not compatible is the firmware updater.
Regarding Alpine Ridge, it's fine for Thunderbolt displays (5K or 6K or whatever) because the Thunderbolt controller in the display does the conversion from Thunderbolt to DisplayPort.

For USB-C (not Thunderbolt) or DisplayPort displays, you are limited to DisplayPort 1.2 (4K 60Hz 10bpc or 5Kx1440 10bpc). Even though DisplayPort 1.2 doesn't support HDR, Apple somehow allows HDR using DisplayPort 1.2 if the display supports HDR.

 

[Meatsuit]

Show me? Could not find that.

 

[jasonmvp]

For USB-C (not Thunderbolt) or DisplayPort displays, you are limited to DisplayPort 1.2 (4K 60Hz 10bpc or 5Kx1440 10bpc). Even though DisplayPort 1.2 doesn't support HDR, Apple somehow allows HDR using DisplayPort 1.2 if the display supports HDR.

My concoction here includes using two TS3+ docks for my (Intel)Macbook Pro.

Dock 1: an active DP-HDMI adapter run to one of my three 4K displays. The Thunderbolt port is running to the CalDigit 10Gig adapter.

Dock 2: another active DP-HDMI adapter run to the second of my three 4K displays. And finally a USB-C to HDMI run to the third display.

I get the 3 x 4K/60 from the displays, but there's no way to do HDR through all that conversion. Doh! (DP ports on the displays already taken by my gaming PC).

 

[jasonmvp]

Show me? Could not find that.

Show you what?

 

[Flint Ironstag]

Could also be the wonderful Finder that's choking on the file transfer. Have you tried rsync?

 

[joevt]

My concoction here includes using two TS3+ docks for my (Intel)Macbook Pro.

Dock 1: an active DP-HDMI adapter run to one of my three 4K displays. The Thunderbolt port is running to the CalDigit 10Gig adapter.

Dock 2: another active DP-HDMI adapter run to the second of my three 4K displays. And finally a USB-C to HDMI run to the third display.

I get the 3 x 4K/60 from the displays, but there's no way to do HDR through all that conversion. Doh! (DP ports on the displays already taken by my gaming PC).

Instead of a second dock (if the first dock has enough ports for you), you could use a less expensive Thunderbolt to Dual HDMI or DisplayPort adapter.

If your 4K 60Hz displays have DisplayPort input, then you should use that to allow 10bpc without chroma subsampling (HDMI 2.0 4K 60Hz is limited to 8bpc without chroma sub sampling or 10bpc with chroma sub sampling). But I guess if your display only has one DisplayPort input and it's already taken by another PC, then HDMI is your only choice (unless there's also USB-C input).

For HDR, I tried many adapters connected to a Alpine Ridge base Thunderbolt 3 device. Only a few support HDR.

Capability Flags:
    Intel GPU: features   0x1000a p_encoding 0x9 (3 features and 2 pixel encodings)
      AMD GPU: features 0x101001b p_encoding 0xd (6 features and 3 pixel encodings)

Notes:
    Information taken from AGDCDiagnose output.
    In all cases where DisplayPort is used, the device is "DVI/HDMI Branch", except in the case of an MST hub where only the info for the MST hub is shown.

No HDR:
- Club 3D CAC-1070 (DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 UHD)                                      [DP 1.2     4 x HBR2] OUI:000-028-248 Parade Technologies, Ltd.   176GB0 [066-048] HW: 16   FW: 7.30
- Plugable usbc-hdmi                                                                      [DP 1.2     4 x HBR2] OUI:000-028-248 Parade Technologies, Ltd.   176GB0 [066-048] HW: 16   FW: 7.30
- Delock 62735 (mini DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0) Parade PS176                                [DP 1.2     4 x HBR2] OUI:000-028-248 Parade Technologies, Ltd.   176GB0 [066-048] HW: 16   FW: 7.85
- OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock HDMI port (limited to HDMI 1.4)                                  [DP 1.2     4 x HBR ] OUI:000-080-182 GOOD WAY IND. CO., LTD.     DB9001 [048-049] HW: 128  FW: 7.54
- StarTech TB32HD2 (limited to HDMI 1.4) Parade 181HDMA1                                  [DP 1.2     4 x HBR ] OUI:000-080-182 GOOD WAY IND. CO., LTD.     HDMI_A [095-065] HW: 128  FW: 7.54
                                                                                          [DP 1.2     4 x HBR ] OUI:000-080-182 GOOD WAY IND. CO., LTD.     HDMI_B [095-066] HW: 128  FW: 7.54
- Club 3D CAC-1080 (DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 2.0b)                                         [DP 1.4     4 x HBR2] OUI:000-096-173 MegaChips Corporation       MC290? [048-009] HW: 20   FW: 11.116 (11.116.009)
- Club 3D CAC-1085 (DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 4K120Hz) (see new FW below)                   [DP 1.4 DSC 4 x HBR3] OUI:000-224-076 REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP. Dp1.2? [050-000] HW: 0    FW: 0.0 (0.09)
- Startech DVI DisplayPort 1.2 to DVI Dual Link) (no picture)                             [DP 1.2     4 x HBR ] OUI:144-204-036 Synaptics, Inc VMM2326      SYNA?? [000-000] HW: 16   (2.19.000)
- Club 3D CAC-1510 (DisplayPort 1.2 to DVI Dual Link HDCP-ON or HDCP-OFF)                 [DP 1.2     4 x HBR ] OUI:144-204-036 Synaptics, Inc VMM2320      SYNA#  [035-032] HW: 16   (2.33.102)
- CalDigit SOHO (DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 2.0b with MST hub)                             
    (the OUI is for the MST hub - OUI for HDMI converter is unknown)                      [DP 1.4 DSC 2 x HBR3] OUI:144-204-036 Synaptics, Inc VMM5210      SYNAR? [082-016] HW: 16   (5.05.202)
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter A1305 requires DisplayPort Dual Mode (DP++) (OUI for HDMI converter is unknown)
    1) DP++ provided by HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 (the OUI is for the MST hub)               [DP 1.4     4 x HBR3] OUI:144-204-036 Synaptics, Inc VMM5333      SYNAS3 [083-051] HW: 16   (5.04.005)
- Cable Matters 201388 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Adapter (see new FW below)                       [DP 1.4 DSC 4 x HBR3] OUI:144-204-036 Synaptics, Inc VMM6100      SYNAa? [097-000] HW: 16   (6.03.002)

HDR:
- Club 3D CAC-1080 (DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 2.0b)                                         [DP 1.4     4 x HBR2] OUI:000-096-173 MegaChips Corporation       MC2910 [049-048] HW: 20   FW: 11.116 (11.116.009_HDR)
- Club 3D CAC-1085 (DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 4K120Hz)                                      [DP 1.4 DSC 4 x HBR3] OUI:000-224-076 REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP. Dp1.4? [052-000] HW: 32   FW: 130.0 (1.07)
- Cable Matters 201388 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Adapter                                          [DP 1.4 DSC 4 x HBR3] OUI:144-204-036 Synaptics, Inc VMM6100      SYNAa? [097-000] HW: 16   6.03.123
- Apple Mac mini 2018 HDMI 2.0b (MegaChips MCDP2920A4 DP 1.4 to HDMI 2.0b)                [DP 1.4     4 x HBR2] OUI:000-016-250 Apple, Inc.                 pHDMIf [073-102] HW: 20   FW: 2.25
- Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter A2119                                          [DP 1.4 DSC 2 x HBR3] OUI:000-016-250 Apple, Inc.                 cHDMIb [073-098] HW: 1    FW: 255.193
- Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter A1305 requires DisplayPort Dual Mode (DP++)  
    2) DP++ provided by AMD RX 580 DisplayPort port (colors are wrong, no DisplayPort info)
- AMD RX 580 HDMI 2.0 port (no DisplayPort info)
- AMD RX 580 DisplayPort using DisplayPort Dual Mode to HDMI cable (supports 594 MHz and HDR) (no DisplayPort info)

What's really strange is the CAC-1080 and CAC-1085 did not show an HDR option in Displays preferences panel even when the adapters were connected to an AMD RX 580. This is in Big Sur. Needs more investigation (see Update2 below).

One thing I learned is that the AMD RX 580 supports DisplayPort Dual-Mode 2.0 (I had to fiddle with my DisplayPort to HDMI passive dual mode cable a bit though - I know it's dual mode because the cable would not work from non-dual mode DisplayPort ports - which includes all USB-C/Thunderbolt ports). https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16886944084

Another thing I learned is that the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter A2119 supports DSC which means it can do 4K 60Hz 594MHz 8bpc with DSC instead of 4:2:2 or 4:2:0. 10bpc must still be done with 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 but doesn't need DSC in that case.

Update 1:
- Cable Matters 201388 has a firmware update (requires Windows or BootCamp to apply) to add HDR support. https://kb.cablematters.com/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=147
Update 2:
- CAC-1085 has a firmware update (1.07 - requires Windows or BootCamp to apply) that enables selecting HDR in macOS. E-mail club-3d support to get the update.
Update 3:
- CAC-1080 has a firmware update (11.116.009_210303_HDR - requires Windows or BootCamp to apply) that enables selecting HDR in macOS. E-mail club-3d support to get the update.

 

[mkitchen]

Could also be the wonderful Finder that's choking on the file transfer. Have you tried rsync?

I never had an issue transferring large files on my last MacBook Pro with an ethernet dongle.

 

[jasonmvp]

Instead of a second dock (if the first dock has enough ports for you), you could use a less expensive Thunderbolt to Dual HDMI or DisplayPort adapter.

Interesting idea. Just means a couple of fairly long HDMI cables, but it's doable. However, those adapters are $70-85 or so (plus the cables) where I already have the two TS3s. ;-)

If your 4K 60Hz displays have DisplayPort input, then you should use that to allow 10bpc without chroma subsampling (HDMI 2.0 4K 60Hz is limited to 8bpc without chroma sub sampling or 10bpc with chroma sub sampling). But I guess if your display only has one DisplayPort input and it's already taken by another PC, then HDMI is your only choice (unless there's also USB-C input).

As stated: the DP ports are taken by the PC. The USB-C ports are taken by the Mac Pro 7,1 and HDR works perfectly through those. That leaves two HDMI ports per display, which is what I feed from the Macbook Pro's TS3 docks.

 

[jasonmvp]

But I guess if your display only has one DisplayPort input and it's already taken by another PC, then HDMI is your only choice (unless there's also USB-C input).

This is less M1 related and more related specifically to the TS3+ dock:

I've finally managed to get a triple 4K/60 HDR display set up working via HDMI, but using two TS3+ docks. The first fail was picking up a Sonnet Thunderbolt-3 to dual HDMI convertor from Amazon. The fail there was that one of the HDMI ports on it just flaked the hell out. It wouldn't keep a live HDMI connection up no matter what I tried. And in looking closely at the connector on the device, I can see it's a bit damaged. So I decided to use that convertor with one of the HDMI connectors vs both of them. I'll get to that in a moment.

I mistakenly tried this StarTech DP to HDMI convertor to get HDR HDMI from the dock's DP1.2 port. Another fail. I may have just gotten a bad adapter, but it also couldn't keep a live HDMI connection running. And yes I tried all three of my displays and several different HDMI cables. It was the convertor. I've since thrown it into the electronics recycling bin because it's garbage.

After which, I contacted the folks at CalDigit's tech support. Everything I was reading was telling me DP1.2 can't be converted to HDMI and retain its HDR. I bounced that off of them, and the tech said, "Uh, no, that's not true. Have you tried this adapter from UpTab?" I hadn't, and figured since its description said, "will only work properly with a DP1.4 host port" that it wouldn't work. CalDigit offered to send me one free of charge, and they did. BAM. Instant HDR from the TS3+'s DP port. It worked perfectly. So I bought a second one.

At present, I'm driving one of my displays from the half-broken Sonnet Thunderbolt-HDMI convertor, from one of the dock's Thunderbolt ports. The other two displays are powered off each dock's DP port. All three are showing HDR.

BTW I can't say enough good things about the folks at CalDigit. Apparently the CTO was so interested in my question that he's the one who authorized sending me that adapter.

 

[Quackers]

Is it possible that the M1 goes into sleep and it is this that is breaking the transfer?