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USB or usb typ c to Ethernet Adapter??

686 97 May 12, 2021 at 04:25 PM
HI All

I just came back from the Microcenter. They didnt have a big selection. So i purchased the only brand that im familiar with. Its a tp-link UE300 usb 3.0 to ethernet adaptor. I was doing a comparison and found out this particular product does not have the wake on lan feature like the other ones have. What am i missing without this feature?? Its only 13.99. Thats about average for a adapter i believe.

Also, I didnt know that there is a type c to ethernet adaptor. Is that faster and better?

Should I keep it or buy another? Not too many stores even carry these in stock.
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zbs
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jkee
05-12-2021 at 05:34 PM.
05-12-2021 at 05:34 PM.
Quote from zbs :
HI All

I just came back from the Microcenter. They didnt have a big selection. So i purchased the only brand that im familiar with. Its a tp-link UE300 usb 3.0 to ethernet adaptor. I was doing a comparison and found out this particular product does not have the wake on lan feature like the other ones have. What am i missing without this feature?? Its only 13.99. Thats about average for a adapter i believe.

Also, I didnt know that there is a type c to ethernet adaptor. Is that faster and better?

Should I keep it or buy another? Not too many stores even carry these in stock.
In a home environment, if you don't know what wake on lan is, you won't miss it. It's used to remotely wake up or power on a computer that supports it. Eg. the IT dept has some automated task they want to run on a computer at 2am and it was turned off.

I've used it at home to power on computers with broken power buttons, save myself a couple flights of stairs, and remotely power on things from a far via a VPN. Most home users don't need it.

A UCB-C "dock" is more versatile than just a USB ethernet adapter, adding USB-A ports, card readers, and display options.
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Joined Mar 2007
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Original Poster
zbs
05-12-2021 at 07:01 PM.
05-12-2021 at 07:01 PM.
Jkee

It appears now that there is 3.1 usb ethernet adaptors. Did I shortchange myself by buying the 3.0? Is the usb C ethernet adaptor only for hubs or can that also be used as a single ethernet adaptor? Speedwise what the fastest ?
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MattGrebttap
05-12-2021 at 07:52 PM.
05-12-2021 at 07:52 PM.
Quote from zbs :
Jkee

It appears now that there is 3.1 usb ethernet adaptors. Did I shortchange myself by buying the 3.0? Is the usb C ethernet adaptor only for hubs or can that also be used as a single ethernet adaptor? Speedwise what the fastest ?
In short, no you aren't missing anything unless you want additional ports/functionality like jkee mentioned.

USB 3.0 is known now as USB 3.2 Gen1 (see here for an explanation [cnet.com]) and has a throughput of 5Gbps. Your USB 3.0 device is the same as a USB 3.2 Gen 1 device. However, a USB 3.1 device is now considered a USB 3.2 Gen 2 device and has a 10Gbps throughput. Most consumer grade ethernet adapters I've seen are the Gigabit variety with a 1Gbps transfer rate - well below the base USB 3 throughput.

I am assuming you are putting this into a laptop, but you didn't say specifically. Do you know for sure your USB-A ports are USB 3 (see description above again)? If you put a USB 3 device in a USB 2 slot you will be limited to the max of 480Mbps.
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DC
05-13-2021 at 10:29 AM.
05-13-2021 at 10:29 AM.
Quote from zbs :
Jkee

It appears now that there is 3.1 usb ethernet adaptors. Did I shortchange myself by buying the 3.0? Is the usb C ethernet adaptor only for hubs or can that also be used as a single ethernet adaptor? Speedwise what the fastest ?
USB C ports can be used just like a USB 3 port.
Hook a phone, external hard drive, etc... etc... etc...

The USB C has docking options where you use it with a dock and it's like a full on docking station that you'd set your laptop into and a special port on the bottom would mate with the dock and you'd have your monitors, keyboard, mouse, etc...always attached to the dock, saving you the hassle of plugging them in 1 at a time every time you came home with laptop in hand. In this case you simply unplug the USB C cable (from the dock) and take your laptop with you.
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