Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by chennegan

is thunderbolt 3 compatible with apple TB 1/2?

chennegan — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 17:46:16 +0800

Hello everyone!

A lot of people have been asking me at work if their Apple Thunderbolt 1/2 computer (older MacBook Pros especially) will work with a Thunderbolt 3 device. So, here's an answer to that!

Thunderbolt 3 devices (docking stations/RAID storage devices, etc) are all backward compatible with legacy Thunderbolt 1 and 2 computers.

However, order to convert from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 protocols, an adapter from Apple is required. A Thunderbolt 2 cable is also required in this setup.

This adapter will also enable your legacy Thunderbolt 1 and 2 computers to make use of many functions that Thunderbolt 3 has to offer, including a dual extended monitor setup if it is supported by the computer's GPU. The laptop charging feature, however, is not implemented in the legacy Thunderbolt computers.

Apple's Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter does not support bus powered Thunderbolt 3 devices directly, such as an external hard drive or bus powered docking station.

All bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 devices should be connected to the Thunderbolt 3 computer directly or to a dual-port Thunderbolt 3 device (such as the a Thunderbolt 3 dock) using Apple's adapter to convert to the Thunderbolt 1/Thunderbolt 2 computer.

using iPad Pro 2018 with a Thunderbolt 3 dock

chennegan — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 12:20:20 +0800

hi guys! i originally wrote this guide for my company website here but i have modified it to make it more relevant to anyone using an iPad Pro 2018 with any Thunderbolt 3 dock. you can find the original here:
https://www.caldigit.com/KB/index.asp?KBID=241&viewlocale=1

Okay, so let's get started~

Thunderbolt 3 docks are compatible with iPad Pro 2018 (USB-C) while connecting it as a USB-C device. Your Mac is able to use iTunes to connect to the iPad Pro and transfer data while charging the iPad Pro via a Thunderbolt 3 dock.

Your Mac may also need to install the new Apple's iPad Pro support software as well as any support drivers that come with your dock, which is required before any USB ports on the dock can recognize the iPad Pro.

There are two ways to connect the iPad Pro to a dock's Type-C ports:

1. While connecting the iPad Pro to the Thunderbolt 3 port on the dock, your Mac can instantly see the iPad Pro, charge it and transfer the data via iTune if the Apple's iPad Pro support software is installed and your Mac is trusted by the iPad Pro . If not, macOS would automatically popup a message and ask you to install the software before using the iPad Pro.

2. While connecting the iPad Pro to the USB-C ports on the dock, such as the front and rear USB-C ports on the TS3 Plus, you may see a warning saying "USB Accessories Disabled".

In this case, you need to disconnect the iPad Pro first, download and install the Thunderbolt 3 dock's support drivers to enable iPad Pro support.
During the installation, you will be asked to give the permission to the driver before it can load to the system properly.
For example, you can see below:

Notes:
1. iPad Pro 2018 is not a Thunderbolt 3 host, thus, you will not be able to use any port expansion features on the Thunderbolt dock.
2. To connect your iPad Pro to the dock, always use Apple's USB-C cable that comes with iPad Pro.
3. If you still see "USB Accessories Disabled" warning from macOS, even after all the drivers are installed, you can try power cycling your Thunderbolt 3 dock and your Mac.

25% discount on RAID storage devices~

chennegan — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 17:57:34 +0800

Hey all!

there is a 1111 sale still going on here for the T4 RAID HDD, available in 8TB, 12TB, and 24TB
http://shop.caldigit.com/asia/index.php?ro...&product_id=167

thanks~

Active and passive cable/adapter for monitors

chennegan — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 12:08:35 +0800

Hi all, I do technical support at my company and I realize a lot of people are still confused about active and passive adapters when they want to use a DisplayPort monitor, for example. I originally wrote this short guide for our FB page but I changed it to be more helpful for anyone here that is interested

1. What do "active" and "passive" mean?
Any product that requires extra power to operate (such as such as a wall socket or additional USB cable) is referred to as "active." Inside active cables, there is a silicon chip inside to increase performance. On the other hand, passive cables do not have this chip, and can function on their own to carry a signal in shorter lengths (under 1m).

2. When do I need an active or passive cable/adapter?
Any time you need to convert from DisplayPort to HDMI, VGA, or DVI, you will need an active adapter, as the chip inside the adapter will convert the signal properly. A passive adapter will not work in this case.
For example, If you've only got a DisplayPort cable want to connect to an HDMI monitor, then you need to use an active DisplayPort to HDMI adapter.
However, for converting DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort, an active adapter is not required (but do ensure the adapter is good quality).

3. How can I tell the difference between an active or passive cable/adapter?
The best way to tell if a cable is active or passive is by checking the labeling on the product box. Passive cables/adapters generally do not mention they are passive, so if you need an active cable or adapter, make sure it clearly says so on the box or in product description.

4. What is the difference between a 0.7m and 2m Thunderbolt™ 3 cables?
Other than the difference in length, the 0.7m is passive and the 2m is active. A 2m active cable is not backwards compatible, so you will not be able to use it to connect to USB 3.1 or 3.0 storage devices, a USB-C dock, or a USB-C monitor.

5. Do I need an active Thunderbolt 3™ cable for my device?
Not necessarily - if you do not need the extra length, a 0.7m passive cable will be sufficient. However, you will want a cable that provides 100W power delivery and 40Gbps bandwidth speeds.

if you want more details about right cable for your device, this cable selector page is pretty useful. cheers!

Docking stations

chennegan — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 10:46:36 +0800

Hi, I didn't see any threads about docks so I thought I'd start one.

Anyone here use docking stations and have one they recommend? (either USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 docks, not cheap USB hubs)

Thanks in advance~