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Thunderbolt 3 Ethernet Adapters out there?

C

coin3d

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 7, 2015
4
0
Hi all,

I'm wondering if there are any pure Thunderbolt 3 based ethernet adapters available for the new Macbook Pro 2016? All of which I've tested so far (no matter if cheap or expensive ones) were based on "cheap" USB chipsets. There is still the old Thunderbolt 2 Ethernet Adapter by Apple available, however I don't wanna buy a "Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter" to be able to connect the old Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

You might ask why I'm bothering at all - I just had bad experiences with USB based ethernet sticks in the past and since the new Macbook Pro is exposing proper Thunderbolt over USB-C, why should the adapter use the USB bus?

Thanks
 
Sometimes when I needed to test some network I used this http://ijetech.com/R-1161/ (USB3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet) and it worked really good. No need to install any driver.
But you should try to add the Apple adapter from TB3 to USB3.0.
 
The Belkin USB-C to Ethernet adaptor (the only one Apple sells in it's stores and website) has been rock solid for me for over a year (I had it for the MacBook before my new MacBook Pro). Attached to a corporate network with multiple vlans or just at home, this is a legit stable adaptor not some shady generic Amazon one.
 
I've seen claims that the Apple/Belkin USB-C ethernet adapter is more taxing on the CPU (and therefore power consumption) than a Thunderbolt-based solution, so that is another reason to prefer a Thunderbolt solution.

However, if you're tethered to ethernet, you're probably tethered to a power source too!

https://twitter.com/tapbot_paul/status/814150859084926980

"CPU usage is a ton higher via USB-C."
 
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Brookzy said:
I've seen claims that the Apple/Belkin USB-C ethernet adapter is more taxing on the CPU (and therefore power consumption) than a Thunderbolt-based solution, so that is another reason to prefer a Thunderbolt solution.

However, if you're tethered to ethernet, you're probably tethered to a power source too!

https://twitter.com/tapbot_paul/status/814150859084926980

"CPU usage is a ton higher via USB-C."
Click to expand...

This is what I've been expecting. USB-C (ethernet) adapters are a trap - manufacturers try to reach as many possible customers as possible (Macbook, Chromebook, even smartphones) by using the slower USB Bus. But with USB-C, USB isn't always the best choice possible - in case of the Macbook Pro, Thunderbolt would be the better option.

Nevertheless, thanks for the link to the tweet. This pretty much sums up my expectation and I have to go the expensive, ugly, dual-adapter way :(
 
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dyn said:
Apparently there is a new adapter from Belkin that is Thunderbolt 3 according to Apple (see tech specs at the bottom of the page): Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
Click to expand...
That's still a USB adapter. They use Thunderbolt 3 to describe the port, but it's just USB over USB Type C. The fact that it works on a Macbook along with the Macbook Pro shows this. In the description for all of the other USB Type C adapters they sell they all talk about it as the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Port regardless of the type of bus it uses.
 
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The tech specs of the products are very clear when it comes to USB or Thunderbolt 3. In this case they specifically mention it being Thunderbolt 3, not Thunderbolt 3-compatible or USB. The adapter is also unavailable until februari 2017 which is along the lines of many other Thunderbolt 3 products.

The problem here is that the description also mentions that this is an adapter that can be used with the MacBook. Right now it is inconclusive, we just don't know if the description or the tech specs are incorrect. The fact that there is 0 info about this adapter (it is an Apple exclusive) doesn't help.
 
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The adapter was and in fact is widely available. The white one may be sold out but you can still buy the black one directly from Belkin.
 
Creep89 said:
The adapter was and in fact is widely available. The white one may be sold out but you can still buy the black one directly from Belkin.
Click to expand...
They have very differing article numbers with the black only being sold by Belkin. The white one mentioned in the Apple store (which has never been sold as it is only available as of feb 2017) has a different article number and is specific to Apple. On Jamf Nation there is also talk about this adapter where they are more down to earth than you. There could be differences between the models. The black one for example does not support netbooting, the white one (which nobody has!) may or may not support it. Like I said, there is 0 info about this adapter (also noted by the people on Jamf Nation and in fact, the only thing I could find about this adapter) so we simply don't know.

Be aware that product numbers can be derived from the chip used and don't necessarily contain anything that leads back to a certain type of interface. It could be that the colour in this case is what distinguishes the interface types. Or it could be that making it white is all what was in Apple's request.
 
dyn said:
They have very differing article numbers with the black only being sold by Belkin. The white one mentioned in the Apple store (which has never been sold as it is only available as of feb 2017) has a different article number and is specific to Apple. On Jamf Nation there is also talk about this adapter where they are more down to earth than you. There could be differences between the models. The black one for example does not support netbooting, the white one (which nobody has!) may or may not support it. Like I said, there is 0 info about this adapter (also noted by the people on Jamf Nation and in fact, the only thing I could find about this adapter) so we simply don't know.

Be aware that product numbers can be derived from the chip used and don't necessarily contain anything that leads back to a certain type of interface. It could be that the colour in this case is what distinguishes the interface types. Or it could be that making it white is all what was in Apple's request.
Click to expand...

I have both the white one, for my office (purchased right when the 2016s came out and before there was a run on them) and a black one (purchased later to always have one in my bag). They identify slightly differently in the network system preferences panel but both work perfectly in my office setting (multiple vlans I need to be a part of an administer.)

I have a Mac mini server and can test net booting with the white one next week after the New Years holiday.
 
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dyn said:
Like I said, there is 0 info about this adapter (also noted by the people on Jamf Nation and in fact, the only thing I could find about this adapter) so we simply don't know.
Click to expand...
What's weird is that it has two reviews :)

I wonder if that adapter was available for a short while, or that these reviews are actually for a different product.
 
bartvk said:
What's weird is that it has two reviews :)

I wonder if that adapter was available for a short while, or that these reviews are actually for a different product.
Click to expand...
The white Apple/Belkin cable was widely available in Apple stores for a short while after the MacBook Pro introduction, until they sold out.
 
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Or they have merged two products. It is something I've seen happen to some other articles too. Btw, the article still hasn't been available here for anyone to buy ever (the reply was a huge hint that you guys need to look further than your own town or the US).
 
dyn said:
On Jamf Nation there is also talk about this adapter where they are more down to earth than you.
Click to expand...
dyn said:
Btw, the article still hasn't been available here for anyone to buy ever (the reply was a huge hint that you guys need to look further than your own town or the US).
Click to expand...
I don't want to let the truth get in-between you and your poor attitude, but the Apple/Belkin USB-C to Ethernet adapter was available in stores across the world in early November after the MacBook Pro unveiling. I saw them myself in two Apple Stores in London, and a quick search shows they did exist in Germany and Japan, for example. You originally said that no-one has these dongles. It was shown that they do. Rather then just doff your hat and move on, you thought it would be easier to insinuate that the helpful people like @Creep89 are narrow minded. A poor show really.

Anyway, back to the thread - Belkin makes a whole series of their accessories in white for Apple. I've researched a lot of them, and there appears to be no difference in them except that they are white and come in packaging that conforms to Apple's retail requirements.

Additionally, if this white USB-C to Ethernet adapter were Thunderbolt 3 rather than simply USB-C, it would surely follow Apple's Thunderbolt adapter naming scheme, which, based on the TB3-TB2 adapter, would make the Belkin cable the "Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter". Instead it is simply "USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter", so I would bet my house on it being USB-C only.
 
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bartvk said:
What's weird is that it has two reviews :)

I wonder if that adapter was available for a short while, or that these reviews are actually for a different product.
Click to expand...

I can assure you, they're real and they're spectacular.

IMG_2563.JPG
 
Look at the product number, it is the same as with the black one but not the same as the one Apple is offering. Anyone who has dealt with product numbers knows that product numbers differ because there are small or big changes. That can include materials, chips (because they switched suppliers) or bigger changes.

From experience I can tell you that even the smallest of changes in the product number can lead to receiving the wrong product (one that doesn't work) so I refrain from making very bold statements like you guys do. I've seen it happen at work many times where the sales people sold the wrong component because they didn't think that different letter in the product number meant anything. This happened each and every week. We even had a case where they bought a barebone computer instead of the version with all the components in it just because they thought that small change in product number didn't matter.

@Brookzy: instead of insulting people who disagree with you I'd suggest doing your homework concerning product numbering first. There are people here who are speaking from their own experience.
 
Brookzy said:
but the Apple/Belkin USB-C to Ethernet adapter was available in stores across the world in early November after the MacBook Pro unveiling.
Click to expand...

Correct... I ordered one during that window and am using it now connected to my LG 5K display.

Here is the system info if it is of any use to anyone.

Screen_Shot_2016-12-31_at_9_56_07_AM.png
 
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So the Belkin uses the same Realtek chip as my Aukey LAN adapter. Interesting, thought Belkin uses a different one.
 
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