USB 3.0 Hub that works with 15'' Retina MBP (OS X Mountain Lion)

I'd like to throw in some factual observations.

I had used a combination of Anker USB 3.0 4-Port Hub (previously had issue with trusty ol' Belkin USB 2.0 7-Port Hub too, that started to ware out after several years reliable PC use), Matrox DualHead2Go ME GXM, Two Samsung SyncMaster DVI-D monitors and an Apple A1243 2-Port Keyboard. Using various methods and port/load combinations, I was getting numerous problems as reported in this post. Not happy with three problems: intermittent drive disconnects, input device stutter/freezes, LAN disconnect.

Solution for me

Using my 2-Port Apple keyboard directly plugged into the lower-powered USB port on my Macbook, plug my mouse into that. Tried both wired Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 1000 (personal favourite of mine - have 3 or 4 of them) and/or Targus Wireless Mouse. These ports are down-stream only and provide stable input device connectivity and stability (supports the type of USB input device use as described by Apple).

I typically plug my Anker USB 3.0 Hub into the second Macbook USB port and plug my drives and GXM into that, but I am not confident with either drive or GXM stability (in multiple configurations). Instead, I have plugged a single USB drive directly into the second Macbook USB port, with a combination of connecting to other drives via LAN network. This proves stable, although I have to give up my external displays and/or multiple USB drives.

So now, to up my USB connectivity, I have ditched the external displays and GXM, and opted for a larger 27" Asus displayPort-connected monitor (with no USB Hub - to ensure no USB device conflict), so that I can permanently connect an external display without giving up a USB port. Still, using one physical drive plugged directly into a Macbook USB port as recommended by Apple, ironically.

On occasion however, I have switched into native Bootcamp and USB heaven opens up ... I can use the USB Hub exactly as I want, plus I don't get any of the issues that intermittently occur with the GXM. This confirms to me that the Macbook hardware is compatible with USB devices in Bootcamp, than it is with native OSX that USB connectivity is so hit-miss (the double irony for me too, is that my GXM is the Mac model, but it actually only works 100% in Windows Bootcamp rather than OSX - unless I use the latter setup without USB Hub to drive multiple USB drives).

This setup might be less than ideal, but it means I can have 100% stable connectivity and stability, with a bit of planning.

Hope this can prove a useful solution to sombody else.

I also have the wired Apple keyboard with 2 x USB2 ports (and had forgotten about those ports ... D'oh!)... Have moved my Time Machine (Seagate 4Tb) from the right hand USB 3 port to the Anker hub which is plugged into the left hand USB 3 port; moved the keyboard to plug into the right hand port and the mouse dongle is now hidden away in one of the 2 keyboard ports.

And it all seems fine! Thank you!

For completeness:

I have an MBP 15" retina (late 2013); Seagate FreeAgent 3Tb with thunderbolt adapter (used for my photo collection), and my Seagate 4tb Backup (Time Machine) , Canon iP4600 printer, WD 2Tb portable drive (used for periodic backups) and an old Wacom Bamboo tablet all plugged into the Anker hub.

Hugh

Bother - no it doesn't work ... the 'freeze and stutter' is back. Curiously it seems to get worse over time.

Has anyone had this problem with the Apple Magic Mouse? No reason why not - but if not, then there must be a cure!

Hugh

I know somebody that was using a Magic Mouse. Soon as they started using a USB 3.0 drive, they kept getting freezes. They also kept using the wrong type of batteries for the Magic Mouse too that didn't help, thus they eventually damaged the Magic Mouse and have resorted to a USB wired mouse ... they still get system freezes, which I believe is due to the continued use of their USB 3.0 drive (they won't listen to me though).

Have you tried your Mac with Magic Mouse, with no USB devices attached? And ensuring that your Network Router is not too close to your Mac or Magic Mouse, as prescribed by Apple (and cited within this actual post by another poster).

I have bought a wired (yukk!) Logitech (ahhh!) mouse and plugged it into my Apple wired keyboard. So far all is well with no freezing or stuttering.

Incidentally I found that my thunderbolt Seagate FreeAgent drive did a few disconnects a couple of days ago ... but hasn't happened before or since. It is connected directly to one of the TB2 ports on the MBP.

My router is about 3 feet from my MBP .. and the USB hub is (of course) right by it.

Hugh

I have a rMBP late 2013, and although I have a nightmare getting my Wi-Fi to work, the Anker USB3.0 9 port hub worked fine untill the last week or so (10.9.2??). Now I am unable to see any drive that is hooked to the hub. When direct connecting them to the Mac, they are recognized. I don't think anyone is at the wheel at Apple.

All I know is that all my problems went away when I switched connecting my MBP to my wifi router's 2.4 GHz band and instead started connecting to the 5 GHz band.

I don't have any bluetooth devices attached, so can't help on that I'm afraid.

doug

That sounds like it might be a hub problem. Did you contact Anker tech support? It's my understanding they have an 18 month warranty.

Tim

Hello,

I finally found the perfect setup (for me at least).

I have a 15-inch Macbook Pro with Retina display (mid-2012) running Mavericks connected to a Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock.

I've connected a miniDisplayPort-to-VGA adapter into the free thunderbolt port on the dock, which is driving an old 21-inch HP w2007 as my secondary monitor.

I've connected my keyboard and mouse to 2 of the USB 3.0 ports on the hub and I've connected the dock's remaining USB 3.0 port to an Anker USB 3.0 hub (I forget the model number, but it's the very Apple-like looking one).

To the hub I've connected all of my remaining USB devices, including a USB3.0-to-eSATA adapter which is connected to a Macally external drive enclosure (with a 1TB drive).

Everything works flawlessly, so I'm very pleased with this. The weird thing is that it honestly seems like the Anker hub works better when connected to the Belkin Thunderbolt Express dock than it did when connected directly to my Macbook Pro's own USB 3.0 ports. The read and write speeds on my eSATA drive are really decent.

Cheers.

I got a T-Mobile Sonic 2 mobile wi-fi for my trip to the U.S. If my hub is connected, my MBP will not connect to the device. If I disconnect the hub it will.

I won't be bringing the hub with me on the trip. But that's pretty bad, I think.

doug

For what its worth, I've had good luck with the kanex usb3gbit3x. its just a 3 port hub, but it also has a gigabit ethernet port and can take an external 5v power brick for additional power. I picked mine up for about $30 on eBay, but they retail for $49.... Kinda spendy, but when you consider that you don't need to carry a lightning to gigabit ethernet port....

AWMarine,

I have read through this whole thread and I'm now worried. Very worried. Has the plugable usb that you mention above with the upgraded chipset and newest firmware proven to be an acceptable USB hub to mount Ext HD's and peripherals?

The rMBP that is set to arrive on my doorstep today will be used with live performances that include video and audio. I cannot afford to have the ext HD unmount nor can I afford for any of the peripherals that will be docking through the USB ports to become idle or unmount.

I'm hoping that through all your hard work and time spent, that the rest of us may benefit with an acceptable solution. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

(15" 2.3GHz rMBP with 512GB recently purchased. Will be using Mavericks osX 10.9.2 or greater)

Thank you in advance.

-DJ LL-

Please excuse the double post....

AWMarine,

I have read through this whole thread and I'm now worried. Very worried. Has the plugable usb that you mention above with the upgraded chipset and newest firmware proven to be an acceptable USB hub to mount Ext HD's and peripherals?

The rMBP that is set to arrive on my doorstep today will be used with live performances that include video and audio. I cannot afford to have the ext HD unmount nor can I afford for any of the peripherals that will be docking through the USB ports to become idle or unmount.

I'm hoping that through all your hard work and time spent, that the rest of us may benefit with an acceptable solution. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

(15" 2.3GHz rMBP with 512GB recently purchased. Will be using Mavericks osX 10.9.2 or greater)

Thank you in advance.

-DJ LL-

The Plugable will work if the MBP is connecting to the wifi router is connected to via the 5.0 GHz band. If it is connecting via the 2.4 GHz band it may not.

doug

Doug Lerner,

Thank you kindly for the reply. I've read your posts as well and had already made my mind to use the available 5GHz that my router offers versus using the 2.4GHz. Luckily for me, during perfomrances, I usually do not connect to any wifi unless I'm at home. But I will be using up to 6 USB 3.0 devices that will be communicating with the rMBP. I was worried about the 3 'heavier' components. Those being a USB powered soundcard, a MIDI equipped DJ mixer, and ext HD that will be supplying videos and audio. Thank you again for your swift response. I'm planning on ordering the Plugable hub this evening.

-DJ LL-