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CGW

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 11, 2015
23
3
I have a 2019 16” MBP. This model has four USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Three weeks ago I purchased from Amazon an “AUKEY USB C Hub 8-in-1 with 4K HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB 3.0, 100W PD Charging and SD&Micro SD Card Reader USB C Adapter”. I have numerous USB devices ... and I prefer a wired Ethernet connection — so I’m using the hub with my power plug, wired Ethernet, and one or more USB devices. I use one of the remaining ports on the MBP for video output.

The hub has been working great but for two incidents that resulted in the MBP no longer charging, the USB devices disconnecting, and network connectivity being disrupted. Both times, disconnecting and reconnecting the hub resolved the issue. I doubt it’s significant but the only thing I recall doing right before the incidents occurred was playback of some of my videos in the Photos app. OTOH, I’ve played back videos many other times from the Photos app, without incident.

So I’m now wondering if it’s the hub or the MBP that is at fault — or whether the choice of the MBP port I have the hub plugged into is important. The issue is so sporadic that’s it’s difficult to troubleshoot within the 30 days I have to return the hub to Amazon.

I recall reading somewhere that the MBP’s ports are not equal; e.g., the power plug is best placed in one of the two ports on either the left or right side. Does anyone recall reading this?
 
I have read comments from users in this forum that they have sometimes had bad experiences with USB-C Hubs which affected their MBP. From my experience with my 2019 15" MBP, I have not had any problems with the USB-C Hub that I use with my MBP. I have had the NOVOO 5 in 1 USB-C Hub for more than a year now and I have not had any problems with it. NOVOO does make an 8-1 USB C Hub that includes Ethernet and some of the ports that you may be looking for so you have access to those ports on your MBP.
 
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