iPad Pro USB-C Hub

[hopkins802]

Hey all,

I just tried testing out the OWC Travel Dock E and it's failing miserably. I'm hoping to use my iPad Pro 5th Gen on a trip soon in order to offload footage. My hope was to plug an SSD into one port of the USB-C hub, and an SD card or SD card reader into the other. I can't get any transfer to finish without the hub disconnecting. I've even tried plugging the hub into the wall, and then into the ipad...No dice. Any recommendations?

 

[Ludatyk]

Umm.. from my experience I always encountered problems when offloading files or various content from the iPad to a flash drive. However, I never have any problems transferring from external drive to iPad, but if anything I recommend using FilesBrowser app… that might help.

And when you say disconnect, does the hub completely turns off?

 

[hopkins802]

Umm.. from my experience I always encountered problems when offloading files or various content from the iPad to a flash drive. However, I never have any problems transferring from external drive to iPad, but if anything I recommend using FilesBrowser app… that might help.

And when you say disconnect, does the hub completely turns off?

I'm transferring from an SD card to an SSD. The SSD is plugged into the USB-C dock. I'm using the Files App. When I say disconnect I mean the SSD and SD card both disappear from the Files app as if they were ejected.

 

[Ludatyk]

I'm transferring from an SD card to an SSD. The SSD is plugged into the USB-C dock. I'm using the Files App. When I say disconnect I mean the SSD and SD card both disappear from the Files app as if they were ejected.

Thanks for the clarification. But I suggest you try FilesBrowser app, I always find it more reliable than Files app.

 

[hopkins802]

Thanks for the clarification. But I suggest you try FilesBrowser app, I always find it more reliable than Files app.

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

 

[sparksd]

Thanks for the clarification. But I suggest you try FilesBrowser app, I always find it more reliable than Files app.

Totally agree (I own the Pro version).

 

[hopkins802]

Totally agree (I own the Pro version).

The app didn’t work out unfortunately. Drives still kept disconnecting. I attribute it to the OWC hub.

 

[sparksd]

The app didn’t work out unfortunately. Drives still kept disconnecting. I attribute it to the OWC hub.

Got it. I use an Anker USB-C hub.

 

[hopkins802]

Got it. I use an Anker USB-C hub.

Mind sharing the exact one? I might borrow my dads super old laptop so I can transfer footage on this trip.. would rather bring the iPad though!

 

[sparksd]

Mind sharing the exact one? I might borrow my dads super old laptop so I can transfer footage on this trip.. would rather bring the iPad though!

Sure -

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087QZVQJX

Works great and I particularly like that it has a USB-C data port in addition to the USB-C power port - I have a couple of USB-C SSDs.

 

[hopkins802]

Thanks!

 

[sparksd]

Thanks!

Just a note - the iPad's interaction with exFAT-formatted media can be flaky at times - my long-running thread on this:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/file-corruption-on-copy-to-external-storage.2235171/

FileBrowser has always worked well for me but I still have distrust in the iPad with this format. I connect my camera's SD card and an SSD to the hub to save my pictures/video to the SSD. But I do a copy, not a move. Then I verify that the copied files on the SSD are good (not corrupted) - you can tell if the thumbnails look good; only then do I delete the files from SD card (or format it in the camera). "Trust but verify."

 

[MrWillie]

What about your cable ? Does the hub work when plugged into a desktop or laptop using the same cables ?