USB-C Switch (Not Hub)

[markmcb]

I'm unable to find a USB-C switch. Do they exist?

Use case: I have a personal MacBook Pro and a MBP for work. At my home desk, I plug my MBP into a CalDigit TS3Plus+ (which is great btw). This gives me quick connectivity to my monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and 85W of power. I'd like to be able to run the USB-C cable that goes to my laptop through a USB-C switch. This way I could also plug my work laptop to the switch and just press a button to flip between the two. (versus manually unplugging the cable from one MBP and plugging it into the other MBP ... I know, hard work right?)

In other words, what I have:
peripherals <---> TS3+ <---> One USB-C MBP (change cable to use other MBP)

... what I want:
peripherals <---> TS3+ <---> USB-C Switch <===> Two USB-C MBPs (toggle with button)

 

[dwig]

I don't know of a device of this type, but I do know that just looking for "USB-C" is not good enough.

USB-[letter] only designates the connector type and NEVER specifies what data type and/or power might be present. For the use case you mention, you need to look for "TB3" switching devices, which will always use a USB-C connector as that is part of the TB3 spec.

 

[markmcb]

I don't know of a device of this type, but I do know that just looking for "USB-C" is not good enough.

USB-[letter] only designates the connector type and NEVER specifies what data type and/or power might be present. For the use case you mention, you need to look for "TB3" switching devices, which will always use a USB-C connector as that is part of the TB3 spec.

Ah, yes, good point. A TB3 switch is what I need.

 

[Jeff_42]

It sounds like you want a KVM?

 

[markmcb]

It sounds like you want a KVM?

Yes, basically. I’d want everything TB3 can handle though, which is beyond just a keyboard, video monitor and mouse. (For example, power to charge the laptops would be nice so it’s one cable per laptop.)

 

[dwig]

The question is, what devices do you need to switch?

If you only need to switch the keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and not any connected storage devices, then:

• add a dongle with the necessary monitor and USB, plus maybe PD, connections for use with the transient work notebook.
• take the monitor-mouse-keyboard outputs from the new dongle and those from the existing docking station and feed then into an appropriate KVM.
• connect the mouse, keyboard, & monitor to the "output" from the KVM.

Using a KVM like switch to also switch USB storage devices it fraught with danger and is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED. If you need shared storage then add a network resource, either dedicated NAS or a network share.

 

[markmcb]

The question is, what devices do you need to switch?

I need to switch the TB3 "to computer" port of a CalDigit TS3Plus+ to 2 MacBook Pros (i.e., 2 TB3 ports). So 1 TB3 to 2 TB3. So it's like a KVM, but with TB3 USB-C ports.

Currently, that TS3Plus+ connects my MBP to a USB-C monitor, USB-A keyboard, USB-A speakers, a USB-A phone, a USB-A mouse, an Ethernet cable, occasionally a pair of headphones, and delivers 85W of DC power to charge the laptop over USB-C. There is no storage involved with the exception that the TS3Plus+ has an SD card port (and I only use that when dumping photos from my camera). I have a proper NAS for network storage.