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Device to split 1 x thunderbolt 2 socket into 2 thunderbolt connections

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darcym

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 30, 2014
14
0
I've got a MBP 11.1 with 2 x thunderbolt 2 ports on it.

I'm currently wasting one of the ports with a thunderbolt->firewire 800 converter.

I'd like to get a device (not a $300 docking station with 24 ports on it) that splits the thunderbolt 2 device into 2 x thunderbolt devices, so I can get the firewire 800 adapter and the gigabit Ethernet adapter on the same thunderbolt port.

Any suggestions for a good device to do this.

thanks
 
Its not possible Thunderbolt is made to daisy chain them, one Thunderbolt line can not split up into more Thunderbolt connections.

You have to get a hub with FireWire and Ethernet. But what is your concern to plug them both in seperate ports? If you dont plan to use 2x non Thunderbolt display and a hdmi display you have always enough connections
 
the problem is - I am currently using all my connections already and have no space for the Ethernet connection.

I am using my thunderbolt connection for a monitor, my USB connections for some disk,

my other thunderbolt connector for the firewire device I have to use, hence why I feel like using a thunderbolt 2 connection just for a firewire 800 converter is just a massive massive waste.
 
meme1255 said:
Apple kills Thunderbolt by its own products ... :(
Click to expand...

Why, because they're following the specification?

Without a specific 2 port controller ($$) in the device, you can't daisy chain. It's why there are a lot of single-port thunderbolt devices, like the FW adapter and external drives. It's cheaper to implement it this way with the single port controller.

Every device on the chain must have a controller which is what makes it more expensive than something like USB where you only need the host controller (the computer), and every thunderbolt port must talk to one other thunderbolt port, so you can't split them in two - the only option is to use a controller that has two ports on it.
 
blueroom said:
Consider upgrading the FW800 drive to a USB 3.0 drive.
Click to expand...

Exactly. A USB 3.0 enclosure and hub will probably be cheaper than a Thunderbolt hub alone. It'll probably be faster than Firewire too.
 
joe-h2o said:
Why, because they're following the specification?

Without a specific 2 port controller ($$) in the device, you can't daisy chain. It's why there are a lot of single-port thunderbolt devices, like the FW adapter and external drives. It's cheaper to implement it this way with the single port controller.

Every device on the chain must have a controller which is what makes it more expensive than something like USB where you only need the host controller (the computer), and every thunderbolt port must talk to one other thunderbolt port, so you can't split them in two - the only option is to use a controller that has two ports on it.
Click to expand...

I know that, Thunderbolt is de facto external PCI-E, but I'd rather have a choice to buy TB to Ethernet with two TB controllers to daisy chain it with MiniDP to something else adaptor as people could use both Ethernet and extLCD at the same time with MBA for example - Currently you have to use USB to Ethernet, what is much more CPU demanding as USB doesn't have DMA and hosts has to control everything. Yes, it's cheaper (USB), but at cost of battery life and CPU performance.
 
I can't upgrade a firewire 400 (using firewire 800 converter / thunderbolt converter ) device as it's an audio device,

so I have to use the USB3 disks, firewire 800 converter for the audio devices, thunderbolt/HDMI for the displays, I have no way to get the Ethernet going.
 
darcym said:
I have no way to get the Ethernet going.
Click to expand...

You HAVE a way, but a bit more CPU-demanding.. Try this USB 3.0 <--> Gigabit ethernet (or some else, I was googling these adaptors today... ASIX AX88179 is chipset which is used and supports OS X, Linux and Windows... ) That's, unfortunately, the simplest and cheapest solution :(
 
The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock will fit the bill. $199.

1 Thunderbolt port to connect to laptop
1 Thunderbolt port to connect Thunderbolt devices (Daisy-chain up to 5 devices through one port)
1 Gigabit Ethernet port
1 FireWire 800 port
1 3.5mm Headphone Output Jack
1 3.5mm Audio Input Jack
3 USB 3.0 ports (data transfer at 2.5Gbps max)
Powered USB 3.0 Ports support USB Charging (500mA)
Cable-management channel
 
I don't have a way as all my thunderbolt 2 and USB 3 ports are taken up.

This laptop is part of a pro-tools setup, so the requirements are very specific.

If I'm going to spend $200+ on a full dock, I'm going to wait for the sonnettech dock which is thunderbolt 2, rather than thunderbolt 1
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15prothunderboltdock.html

However as I said in my first post, I'm not looking to spend $200 for the sake of gigabit Ethernet, I was looking for a way to not waste a thunderbolt 2 port on just a firewire converter, as it seems a massive massive waste, if the only way to achieve that is with a full dock setup, then I'll wait for the echo15 dock, if there is a way to daisy chain -> thunderbolt 2 -> firewire 800 -> gigabit Ethernet for a reasonable price, then I'll be happy to take any advice.
 
darcym said:
Other then getting a hub or a different drive that is TB capable, your options are limited. TB hubs are very expensive as you now see and so that leaves getting a drive that is TB capable.
Click to expand...
 
sbmathema said:
Recently found this link, willing to try it out as soon as I can get one:
eshop.macsales.com

OWC Thunderbolt Hub: More Ports, More Power, More Creativity

Enhance your setup with 3 Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and 1 USB 3.2 port. Perfect for creatives needing seamless access to storage, displays, and accessories.
eshop.macsales.com eshop.macsales.com
Click to expand...
Let us know how well it works. Wonder if there is any slowdown. Claims independent buses, so each port technically should flow close to 40GBs.
 
ThunderBolt 4 can be port replicated like sata. There are a handful of commercial TB4 Docks that do this.
 
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