Ethernet: A wired Ethernet connection is almost always faster than Wi-Fi and is more reliable, too. Most hubs with Ethernet ports support gigabit speeds, meaning data can transfer at up to 1,000 megabits a second. For each model in the test group, we verified the connection speed in Network Utility on a Mac, which displays the maximum link speed. (Note that unless you have reliable Gigabit Ethernet service, you won’t be able to measure if the port is actually performing at full speed.) Ethernet, SFP+, 8x USB, power, fan, user, 2x WWAN (if CORE module is inserted), Wi-Fi (on Wi-Fi models)

Example, using a sabrnet USB 3 hub to transfer a 9Gb file SSD to SSD (hub port yo hub port) takes over 9 minutes, while it only takes 15 seconds to transfer to or from the computer. The chassis is aluminum, so it’s rugged yet lightweight, and it looks great, too. This is the ultimate hub for anyone who wants to connect several devices or transfer data from multiple USB sources simultaneously. It's worth noting that when plugged into a computer, there is some connection latency for the higher-count ports. But the first four ports are fast and responsive. When buying a hub, consider where you will use it and what devices you plan on connecting through it. If you aim for the maximum mobility of being able to plug a bunch of devices into your laptop wherever you are, then you should opt for a bus-powered hub. All models have Gigabit Ethernet support. 8- and 24-port models support 10 GB Ethernet with the option to use SFP+ connectors for fiber network connectivity. The 24-port models support dual Ethernet or dual SFP+ and optional Ethernet bonding for higher speeds and/or failover redundancy. Wi-Fi versions of the 8- and 24-port models are also available, providing Wi-Fi client or access point connectivity.Where I am seeing severe degradation in transfer speeds using USB 3 hubs is from SSD to SSD connected to the same hub. If you work in a more stationary manner with a hub constantly attached to a 5e Ethernet network, it’s wise to opt for a self-powered one. Once in place, you can use it to connect and charge as many devices as it can take without any negative impact on your system. And desktop computer users can seriously consider an expansion card to get more USB ports on their machines, as long as they have plenty of cabling already. The TS3 Plus allows you to maximize the capabilities of a Thunderbolt 3 connection. It features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one DisplayPort 1.2 port, five USB 3.1 Type-A ports, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, an SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II), a Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF) port 1x Gigabit, Ethernet, an Analog Audio In, and an Analog Audio Out port.

Windows® 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server® 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019 and Linux Note: Almost all USB devices (especially printers) come with cables so short you'll need to buy longer USB cables, a.k.a. USB extenders. Choosing the best USB extender over cat5e for your scenario isn’t easy and depends mainly on the type of USB device you’re going to connect and physical distance.It’s a very common mistake to think that if you connect several cables, you get a very long extender and will be able to connect a USB device in the next room. But that won’t ever work. The majority of USB hubs are plug in and play and do not require any software to use them. Once the hub is connected, users can attach a range of accessories, such as: a mouse, keyboard, webcam, external hard drive, printer, and more, depending on how many ports the hub provides. Some USB-C hubs go further by incorporating USB-PD passthrough. Here the idea isn’t so much to power the connected devices as to power the laptop the hub connects to, so that you just connect the laptop to the hub, and it charges as you use it without the charger taking up the spare USB-C port. The key thing here is how much power the hub can supply. Most will deliver 80W or more when used with a 100W charger, which should more than cover any laptop. However, with some you’re looking at 50W or less, which might mean missing out on fast-charging modes on some of those laptops that support them. Output ports: Make sure you get enough ports to attach the number of devices you’re likely to need. Most USB hubs have at least 3, more often 4, output ports, but at your desk, you may need a lot more than that. Also, consider whether you are attaching any USB-C devices (most output ports on hubs are Type-A).