USB - C PD and Hub for Work from Home - Simple Setup

rh1

rh1

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
17,183
Reaction score
19,827
Location
Somewhere close to you
I am working from home 2-3 times a week. Currently, plugging my laptop power supply into the multiplug each time when at office and/or when at home. Then connecting the peripherals and monitor. Just a plain schlep.

I want to clean up my connections at home. I.e. just plug in the an USB C cable which will connect everything including the monitor.

Bonus would be able to have two hdmi monitors connected at the same time. Quite often I need three screens.

So, previously, I bought a USB C Hub which included a PD USB C port earlier this year, it worked for about an half hour and then stopped working.

Need advice as I am looking for something that is tried and tested and well as what should my budget be. From googling and visiting PC shops, it appears that R750 for the hub and R750 for the Power Supply seems reasonable.

But more importantly, I want something that works.
 
rh1 said:
I am working from home 2-3 times a week. Currently, plugging my laptop power supply into the multiplug each time when at office and/or when at home. Then connecting the peripherals and monitor. Just a plain schlep.

I want to clean up my connections at home. I.e. just plug in the an USB C cable which will connect everything including the monitor.

Bonus would be able to have two hdmi monitors connected at the same time. Quite often I need three screens.

So, previously, I bought a USB C Hub which included a PD USB C port earlier this year, it worked for about an half hour and then stopped working.

Need advice as I am looking for something that is tried and tested and well as what should my budget be. From googling and visiting PC shops, it appears that R750 for the hub and R750 for the Power Supply seems reasonable.

But more importantly, I want something that works.
Click to expand...

You going to need something that's more than R1500

LTT did a review on a different model and seems to work just fine.

 
  • Wow
Reactions: rh1
Also a pain point of mine.

I also bought a USB hub which failed but the problem with them is the cable from the laptop to the hub twists which isn't good for something that has to carry video. The result is after a while the screen flickers or just goes dead after some use because of damage to the cable I think there is a reason the laptop manufacturers don't sell those but rather Chinese manufacturers.

Apple has a good solution for a hub where it has a USB hub without a cable that connects directly in the laptop's two USB-C slots. However I don't thing Windows laptops support dual power delivery. Well at least I have never seen it.

Your option is to go for a docking station rather than a hub but those are rather expensive but support power delivery too.
This docking station for my laptop costs R4K.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Way out of my budget.

Best solution I is to switch to a wireless peripherals which makes life so much easier. Just then have to connect video and power. My keyboard is a 75 key wireless keyboard that fits in my bag.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rh1
rh1 said:
I am working from home 2-3 times a week. Currently, plugging my laptop power supply into the multiplug each time when at office and/or when at home. Then connecting the peripherals and monitor. Just a plain schlep.

I want to clean up my connections at home. I.e. just plug in the an USB C cable which will connect everything including the monitor.

Bonus would be able to have two hdmi monitors connected at the same time. Quite often I need three screens.

So, previously, I bought a USB C Hub which included a PD USB C port earlier this year, it worked for about an half hour and then stopped working.

Need advice as I am looking for something that is tried and tested and well as what should my budget be. From googling and visiting PC shops, it appears that R750 for the hub and R750 for the Power Supply seems reasonable.

But more importantly, I want something that works.
Click to expand...
Does your laptop have a Thunderbolt port?
 
I use dell docking station so I just plug in usb-c cable, these docks goes for R500 to R700 on carbonite.

My other desk everything runs of usb hub off the phone monitor, so I plug in that cable and usb-c charger from my phone to run the laptop. The cellphone charger is there anyway for my phone.
 
skimread said:
Also a pain point of mine.

I also bought a USB hub which failed but the problem with them is the cable from the laptop to the hub twists which isn't good for something that has to carry video. The result is after a while the screen flickers or just goes dead after some use because of damage to the cable I think there is a reason the laptop manufacturers don't sell those but rather Chinese manufacturers.

Apple has a good solution for a hub where it has a USB hub without a cable that connects directly in the laptop's two USB-C slots. However I don't thing Windows laptops support dual power delivery. Well at least I have never seen it.

Your option is to go for a docking station rather than a hub but those are rather expensive but support power delivery too.
This docking station for my laptop costs R4K.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Way out of my budget.

Best solution I is to switch to a wireless peripherals which makes life so much easier. Just then have to connect video and power. My keyboard is a 75 key wireless keyboard that fits in my bag.
Click to expand...
These docks are R700 or so on carbonite works like a dream
 
Dylan_G said:
Does your laptop have a Thunderbolt port?
Click to expand...
As per google: Dell Lattitude 5520:

Ports for any purpose: Quickly connect to peripherals with a full range of available ports, including 2x Type-C™ Thunderbolt™ 4 and legacy ports like HDMI and RJ45.
 
Gtx Gaming said:
I use dell docking station so I just plug in usb-c cable, these docks goes for R500 to R700 on carbonite.

My other desk everything runs of usb hub off the phone monitor, so I plug in that cable and usb-c charger from my phone to run the laptop. The cellphone charger is there anyway for my phone.
Click to expand...
So I just search for Dell Docking Station? Any specific model number? Thanks for the heads up.
 
rh1 said:
As per google: Dell Lattitude 5520:

Ports for any purpose: Quickly connect to peripherals with a full range of available ports, including 2x Type-C™ Thunderbolt™ 4 and legacy ports like HDMI and RJ45.
Click to expand...
As long as you have Thunderbolt, you're golden.

I actually have the same laptop as one of my work machines. My SO as well. We both have RCT branded Thunderbolt docks. One cable - runs everything.

It's this dock which is now discontinued. The options the other guys have posted will work as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rh1
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X