Thunderbolt Hub/Splitter?

EricBrian · Dec 5, 2012, 08:32 AM

So I have a MBP with one Thunderbolt port.

The issue is that my Apple 27" monitor (the model that was sold right before the Thunderbolt monitor was released) needs the thunderbolt port. And, my external SSD drive also needs that port.

Is there a splitter or something similar so that I can plug in both devices at the same time?

Or is there a way to have the monitor use a different port than the thunderbolt port with some kind of plug adapter?

Thanks.

simsaladimbamba · Dec 5, 2012, 08:38 AM

Does the SSD not have two Thnderbolt ports, thus you could connect the SSD to the MBP and the display to the SSD?

EricBrian · Dec 5, 2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Does the SSD not have two Thnderbolt ports, thus you could connect the SSD to the MBP and the display to the SSD?

No, it has just one.

This is the one I bought:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA...sd-hard-drive?

nurivo · Dec 5, 2012, 09:24 AM

Simply put, there isn't. And from what I can tell there is nothing in the works.

You will have to either live with switching back and forth or replace either the hard drive or the display with one that has an additional Thunderbolt port.

EricBrian · Dec 5, 2012, 09:30 AM

Thank you nurivo. That is what I was afraid of.

kgian · Dec 5, 2012, 09:37 AM

Still waiting for practical thunderbolt accessories...

MCAsan · Dec 5, 2012, 10:06 AM

Thunderbolt like SCSI and FW are bus topology where devices are either designed to in the middle (two ports) or end (one port). The problem is you have two devices designed to be only at the end of a thunderbolt bus. See about replacing the SSD with one made with two ports.

gentlefury · Dec 5, 2012, 10:09 AM

Belkin supposedly has one in the works...it was supposed to come out 4th quarter 2012...but it never did. It was also $400!!! Thunderbolt in concept is amazing...in practice however, is extremely overpriced!

A current model TB HDD is more expensive than an SSD in a USB3 enclosure...and the SSD in USB3 will still be faster than a 7200rpm platter drive!

MCAsan · Dec 5, 2012, 10:12 AM

But even faster in a thunderbolt enclosure.

nurivo · Dec 5, 2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentlefury

Belkin supposedly has one in the works...it was supposed to come out 4th quarter 2012...but it never did. It was also $400!!! Thunderbolt in concept is amazing...in practice however, is extremely overpriced!

Nope, that still won't solve the problem. It has two Thunderbolt ports, not three.

With just a single port on the MacBook Pro and two single-port devices, the Belkin hub will not allow you to connect both at the same time.

simsaladimbamba · Dec 5, 2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nurivo

With just a single port on the MacBook Pro and two single-port devices, the Belkin hub will not allow you to connect both at the same time.

Why? Does the Belkin hub detect, that those two devices are meant for the end of the chain and does simply not allow such bastard behaviour?

gentlefury · Dec 5, 2012, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Why? Does the Belkin hub detect, that those two devices are meant for the end of the chain and does simply not allow such bastard behaviour?

He means that it wouldn't be physically capable.

Hub > MBP still leaves only one port free on the hub.

I agree, it is a ridiculous design. Not so much a TB hub as it is a USB3 hub.

I was only pointing it out because it is the only TB device I have seen that even connects anything via TB. It has become a pretty useless standard right out of the box. Its a display port and I use it as an ethernet port...so its slightly flexable there...but thats about it.

simsaladimbamba · Dec 5, 2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentlefury

He means that it wouldn't be physically capable.

Hub > MBP still leaves only one port free on the hub.

I agree, it is a ridiculous design. Not so much a TB hub as it is a USB3 hub.

Ah, yes. Stupid me.

hanstheduck · Dec 6, 2012, 08:52 PM

This is sending me crazy too. On some new Macs there is only one TBolt connection, which isn't enough given the number of legacy (ie nonTB) devices we all have. Compounding it are manufacturers making TB devices without pass thru. Blackmagic have done it with their video breakout box; LaCie as we have seen by above have done it with a drive - so many TB devices are not pass thru. I need a video breakout, and a TB drive with pass thru, and 2 x TB connectors on the computer so that a non TB Cinema screen can be at the end of one chain, and my aFirewire hub at the other.

Apple are making this impossible with single TB connectors (as on my Air). Other thing I have discovered is the TB to FW800 adaptor provides insufficient power to run a pair of daisy chained FW800 portable drives - it will only drive one of them. Why there isn't a proper hub is beyond me - it can't be that hard.

A BIG FAT 'F" to Apple for this shamozzle

MCAsan · Dec 6, 2012, 09:46 PM

Thunderbolt, like SCSI, FW, PATA, and SATA is a bus topology network....not star/tree topology with hubs like USB.

Note the absence of SCSI, FW, PATA or SATA hubs.

SDAVE · Dec 6, 2012, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgian

Still waiting for practical thunderbolt accessories...

Hasn't picked up because of USB3.0

TB is nice and can become any of these ports, so it will stay around, unlike FireWire which is pretty much dead (though I still use FW800)

The rMBP's have 2 TB ports, so that's definitely the future.

Dec 5, 2012, 08:32 AM	#1
EricBrian macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2005	Thunderbolt Hub/Splitter? So I have a MBP with one Thunderbolt port. The issue is that my Apple 27" monitor (the model that was sold right before the Thunderbolt monitor was released) needs the thunderbolt port. And, my external SSD drive also needs that port. Is there a splitter or something similar so that I can plug in both devices at the same time? Or is there a way to have the monitor use a different port than the thunderbolt port with some kind of plug adapter? Thanks.
	0

Dec 5, 2012, 08:38 AM	#2
simsaladimbamba macrumors Core Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: in front of it	Does the SSD not have two Thnderbolt ports, thus you could connect the SSD to the MBP and the display to the SSD? __________________ This is not
	0

Dec 5, 2012, 10:06 AM	#7
MCAsan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2012	Thunderbolt like SCSI and FW are bus topology where devices are either designed to in the middle (two ports) or end (one port). The problem is you have two devices designed to be only at the end of a thunderbolt bus. See about replacing the SSD with one made with two ports. __________________ Retina MBP 2.7GHz \| 16GB \| 768G Thunderbolt Display iPhone 5 \| Black \| 64GB \| AT&T iPad 4 \| Black \| 64GB \| WiFi only
	1

Dec 5, 2012, 10:12 AM	#9
MCAsan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2012	But even faster in a thunderbolt enclosure. __________________ Retina MBP 2.7GHz \| 16GB \| 768G Thunderbolt Display iPhone 5 \| Black \| 64GB \| AT&T iPad 4 \| Black \| 64GB \| WiFi only
	0

Dec 6, 2012, 09:46 PM	#15
MCAsan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2012	Thunderbolt, like SCSI, FW, PATA, and SATA is a bus topology network....not star/tree topology with hubs like USB. Note the absence of SCSI, FW, PATA or SATA hubs. __________________ Retina MBP 2.7GHz \| 16GB \| 768G Thunderbolt Display iPhone 5 \| Black \| 64GB \| AT&T iPad 4 \| Black \| 64GB \| WiFi only
	1

Dec 5, 2012, 09:24 AM	#4
nurivo macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008	Simply put, there isn't. And from what I can tell there is nothing in the works. You will have to either live with switching back and forth or replace either the hard drive or the display with one that has an additional Thunderbolt port.
	0

Dec 5, 2012, 09:30 AM	#5
EricBrian Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2005	Thank you nurivo. That is what I was afraid of.
	0

Dec 5, 2012, 09:37 AM	#6
kgian macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2011	Still waiting for practical thunderbolt accessories...
	1

Dec 5, 2012, 10:09 AM	#8
gentlefury macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA	Belkin supposedly has one in the works...it was supposed to come out 4th quarter 2012...but it never did. It was also $400!!! Thunderbolt in concept is amazing...in practice however, is extremely overpriced! A current model TB HDD is more expensive than an SSD in a USB3 enclosure...and the SSD in USB3 will still be faster than a 7200rpm platter drive!
	0

Dec 6, 2012, 08:52 PM	#14
hanstheduck macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	This is sending me crazy too. On some new Macs there is only one TBolt connection, which isn't enough given the number of legacy (ie nonTB) devices we all have. Compounding it are manufacturers making TB devices without pass thru. Blackmagic have done it with their video breakout box; LaCie as we have seen by above have done it with a drive - so many TB devices are not pass thru. I need a video breakout, and a TB drive with pass thru, and 2 x TB connectors on the computer so that a non TB Cinema screen can be at the end of one chain, and my aFirewire hub at the other. Apple are making this impossible with single TB connectors (as on my Air). Other thing I have discovered is the TB to FW800 adaptor provides insufficient power to run a pair of daisy chained FW800 portable drives - it will only drive one of them. Why there isn't a proper hub is beyond me - it can't be that hard. A BIG FAT 'F" to Apple for this shamozzle
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode