My computer only has one USB-C port and I want to connect multiple USB-C devices to it.
I have trawled through Amazon but am amazed that I cannot find a single one. There are many hubs that have USB 3.1 USB-A ports but not USB-C ones.
Is there a limitation in the spec that prevents this being possible?
In 2021 Thunderbolt 4 docks are now available, which for the first time allow for USB-C / Thunderbolt true multi-port hubs.
For the first time, Thunderbolt 4 will offer docks with up to four Thunderbolt ports and universal cables up to 2 meters in length. – Intel press release
These hubs also seem to pass through USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode signals, allowing them to be used with non-Thunderbolt devices.
Thunderbolt 4 hubs:
Simple one-to-many USB-C hubs with a large number of ports, for some reason, do not really seem to exist.
There are some 2 and 4-port USB-C hubs now available, but none seem to be cheap, simple, or reliable. It's very easy to find 7-port USB-A 3.0 hubs from well-known companies; the same cannot be said for USB-C. There appears to be some kind of spec, chip, or marketing limitation the prevents them from being made.
Some of the same complaints are outlined here, from when zero port-duplicating "hubs" were available:
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2017/10/14/the-impossible-dream-of-usb-c/
None of these USB-C “hubs” actually give you more USB-C ports.
There is supposedly news for 2019/2020 that suggests hub chips may be coming soon:
Update (2018-07-30): Accidental Tech Podcast reports on a rumor that next year Intel will finally ship the chip that’s needed for making a USB-C that adds additional type-C ports.
http://atp.fm/episodes/284 (19:10)
We've heard from an anonymous person that Intel is finally releasing a hub chip for USB-C next year. We may not see products based on it until 2020.
Also search a lot and only found one :
The Belkin 4-Port Mini USB-C Hub with Two USB-C
All four ports support only USB 3.0 speed (5 Gbps = 300 MB/sec effective).
However please note:
The USB-C 4-Port Mini Hub does not support pass-through charging and video output to monitor. This hub is only intended to use with USB-A and USB-C peripherals.
Update:
Found a 2nd one from Sitecom the CN-386:
Turn your USB-C port into 3 ultrafast USB-C ports and 1 USB-C Power Delivery Port
I found one with four USB-C ports! The Sitecom CN-385. It only goes up to 5GBit/s, but judging by the (admittedly just two) reviews on amazon, it is more reliable than its big brother, the CN-386, which has Power Delivery and 10GBit/s support.
Actually OWC is about to create a solution for this stalemate, but you have to look a step up, both in function and in price. However, given how long we waited all is fine: a Thunderbolt 4 hub.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-hub
It should also support USB-C standard, so it is also an USB-C hub.
So far, I’ve found a few hub chips that support USB 3.1, which can find us some hubs:
The Dell WD19 (just plain WD19, not the more expensive WD19TB) has two USB C ports, one of which is DisplayPort alternate mode capable. It provides 60W charging to non-Dell laptops (and 130W via proprietary means to Dell laptops). See the WD19 Userguide specifications.
As with all such products, buying one from eBay is significantly cheaper. Also, Dell has standardized its AC chargers so even if you get one without an AC adapter, any 7.4 mm plug Dell adapter works with it.
