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I saw this headline and was briefly excited for a moment that a USB-C hub finally existed. That is, a device like an ethernet hub or a USB hub, that would turn

I saw this headline and was briefly excited for a moment that a USB-C hub finally existed. That is, a device like an ethernet hub or a USB hub, that would turn one port into several other ports of the same kind. This is an article about USB-C port replicators. Four years into this and not a real single USB-C hub exists. I’ve never seen such a botched rollout.

nikanj 7y ago
I've been told the USB-C spec doesn't allow for hubs like that.
- angrygoat 7y ago
  It's quite a strange design choice: I can plug in the stuff I need when working at my desk (USB 2 keyboard, a couple of external drives, USB-C SSD, monitor) into my Mac only because I have a USB-C to USB 3 hub; but surely down the track more and more of my devices will be native USB-C... at which point I won't have enough ports to plug them all in?
- cesarb 7y ago
  I've looked at the USB-C spec, and it does allow for hubs like that. The USB 2.0 and USB 3.x parts of the hub are the same as for non-USB-C hubs, and the USB-PD standard even has an example with a 3-port USB-C hub at the end.
- ProZsolt 7y ago
  That's not true. The spec allows it but currently, there's no chip that supports it.
garmaine 7y ago
USB-C hubs are not permitted by the spec.
- hvidgaard 7y ago
  But why?
  - garmaine 7y ago
    Power, most likely. You physically couldn’t connect 4-5 full powered devices to a hub. There is an expectation that any USB-C port will accept any power any compatible device.
    - hvidgaard 7y ago
      So instead of a reasonable failure mode and perhaps an error message on the host, we now have an additional USB connector we need to use...?
    - Shorel 7y ago
      Then the hub requires an additional power connector that goes to the wall. It doesn't mean such a device would be impossible to make.
- cesarb 7y ago
  Where in the spec is it written that USB-C hubs are not allowed? The USB-PD spec even has an example with a 3-port USB-C hub, showing how the power delivery negotiation with the downstream ports should work.
- unionpivo 7y ago
  I just bought new PC, I spend almost 300 EUR on Motherboard alone, just so I had 2 USB-c (one back one front) and 2 nvme slots. Does that mean I'll only ever be able to hook up 2 devices to my PC ? If that's the case this sucks. I just cheeked there seems to be lack of usbc pci cards, and the ones that exist only have single ports :(
  - Eric_WVGG 7y ago
    Here's a 4-port card: https://amzn.to/2WuAt4x https://amzn.to/2WuAt4x
crooked-v 7y ago
I have to wonder if the USB4 rollout will be any less awful.

nikanj 7y ago

I've been told the USB-C spec doesn't allow for hubs like that.

angrygoat 7y ago
It's quite a strange design choice: I can plug in the stuff I need when working at my desk (USB 2 keyboard, a couple of external drives, USB-C SSD, monitor) into my Mac only because I have a USB-C to USB 3 hub; but surely down the track more and more of my devices will be native USB-C... at which point I won't have enough ports to plug them all in?
cesarb 7y ago
I've looked at the USB-C spec, and it does allow for hubs like that. The USB 2.0 and USB 3.x parts of the hub are the same as for non-USB-C hubs, and the USB-PD standard even has an example with a 3-port USB-C hub at the end.
ProZsolt 7y ago
That's not true. The spec allows it but currently, there's no chip that supports it.

garmaine 7y ago

USB-C hubs are not permitted by the spec.

hvidgaard 7y ago
But why?
- garmaine 7y ago
  Power, most likely. You physically couldn’t connect 4-5 full powered devices to a hub. There is an expectation that any USB-C port will accept any power any compatible device.
  - hvidgaard 7y ago
    So instead of a reasonable failure mode and perhaps an error message on the host, we now have an additional USB connector we need to use...?
  - Shorel 7y ago
    Then the hub requires an additional power connector that goes to the wall. It doesn't mean such a device would be impossible to make.
cesarb 7y ago
Where in the spec is it written that USB-C hubs are not allowed? The USB-PD spec even has an example with a 3-port USB-C hub, showing how the power delivery negotiation with the downstream ports should work.
unionpivo 7y ago
I just bought new PC, I spend almost 300 EUR on Motherboard alone, just so I had 2 USB-c (one back one front) and 2 nvme slots. Does that mean I'll only ever be able to hook up 2 devices to my PC ? If that's the case this sucks. I just cheeked there seems to be lack of usbc pci cards, and the ones that exist only have single ports :(
- Eric_WVGG 7y ago
  Here's a 4-port card: https://amzn.to/2WuAt4x https://amzn.to/2WuAt4x

crooked-v 7y ago

I have to wonder if the USB4 rollout will be any less awful.