Can a dongle do passthrough + usb-c splitting

[martinnxd]

Hi!

I recently got a 13" non-touchbar MBP and I can't find a setup that works for me, i'll briefly outline my requirements:

1. When mobile, I usually require a 4c nano yubikey ( https://www.yubico.com/product/yubikey-4-series/#yubikey-4c-nano ), but I prefer it to be in whilst at my desk too so I don't lose it.
2. When at my desk, I'd like to use my Apple Thunderbolt Display AND charge my laptop.

My best setup currently is the standard Apple usb-c dongle which has USB-A, HDMI and USB-C (this is how I charge + Yubikey via USB-A), and a Thunderbolt 2 -> Thunderbolt 3 adapter for my display.

Seems I either need:

1) Thunderbolt 2 --> HDMI ... wifi is strong enough for me to sacrifice the ethernet from my display, happy to use bluetooth peripherals and the USB for power only. Can't find one, is this possible?

2) USB-C hub WITH power pass-through. Can't find one of these either.

Any suggestions? Probably going to have to go back to an older MBP.

Thanks!

 

[Jeff_42]

CharJenPro make a hub that has power passthrough for nTB MBPs, has an HDMI port supporting a single 4K monitor, and uses only one of the MBP's TB3 ports so you can still use the other one. I have one and I like it for those reasons.

 

[martinnxd]

Unfortunately I have a thunderbolt display so the HDMI port isn't useful for me

Looks nice tho! Looks like this _might_ do the trick for me: https://bourgedesign.com/collections/usb-c-technology-collection/products/arc-hub

 

[xraydoc]

Unfortunately I have a thunderbolt display so the HDMI port isn't useful for me

Looks nice tho! Looks like this _might_ do the trick for me: https://bourgedesign.com/collections/usb-c-technology-collection/products/arc-hub

Why not just get a multiport Thunderbolt 3 dock that also has two TB3 ports on it (one connected to the laptop, one to connect to the TB3-TB2 adapter for your TB Cinema Display? Will work just fine.
One like this: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/docks/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock

 

[martinnxd]

Why not just get a multiport Thunderbolt 3 dock that also has two TB3 ports on it (one connected to the laptop, one to connect to the TB3-TB2 adapter for your TB Cinema Display? Will work just fine.
One like this: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/docks/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock

Oh dang! This might be perfect, how did I not find this.... Thank you!

$300 is.. a lot.. ironically the same price as getting a touchbar MBP which my company doesn't allow

 

[HDFan]

a touchbar MBP which my company doesn't allow

Is there a reason they don't allow it?

 

[martinnxd]

Is there a reason they don't allow it?

Frugality/budgets is my best guess. Initially there was some confusion about whether the security team objected to Touch ID but that's since been shutdown as false.

 

[xraydoc]

Oh dang! This might be perfect, how did I not find this.... Thank you!

$300 is.. a lot.. ironically the same price as getting a touchbar MBP which my company doesn't allow

There are other, similar docking stations that are less (but with fewer ports).

 

[martinnxd]

There are other, similar docking stations that are less (but with fewer ports).

All I need is either:

Thunderbolt 2 + USB-C power

or 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (one must do power pass through)

Anything on top of that is just a bonus.

 

[xraydoc]

All I need is either:

Thunderbolt 2 + USB-C power

or 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (one must do power pass through)

Anything on top of that is just a bonus.

This article is a little bit older, but a good place to start:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/17...-the-macbook-pro-and-2017-imac-by-the-numbers