Is there a thunderbolt splitting solution?

Hi Community!


I am looking for a good solution to split a thunderbolt.

I have a MBP with only one thunderbolt output and I will need to connect my external monitor with a thunderbolt > HDMI cable but I also have an external audio interface which can only be connected over thunderbolt.

(This means I actually have to disconnect my monitor in order to use my audio interface.)


I have been browsing on the internet but the only solution I have found so far is a belkin thunderbolt express station which (according to the review on youtube) only offers one thunderbolt port, as one is being used to connect to the MBP. So that would be worthless as well.


Does anyone know of an actual thunderbolt splitter which allows to connect 2 thunderbolt devices on 1 port?

(Data wise I am quite sure it can handle both the monitor and the audio interface simultaneous.)


With kind regards,


Wick.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Sep 10, 2014 10:50 PM

Reply
15 replies

Mar 8, 2017 10:45 AM in response to wickiemedia

I'm not sure if this issue has been resolved or not but I was originally looking for the same thing but to use 2 monitors.


Does it have to be via thunderbolt?


If you have an iPad or tablet have you considered the app, "Duet"?


It turns the iPad into a second monitor either as a mirror or extension. I tried it out and its well worth the $14.


Hope this helps.

Mar 25, 2017 8:57 AM in response to wickiemedia

I was looking for a similar solution - older MacBook Pro with 1 thunderbolt port. I was using that port to connect to a Sony tv until I picked up the new UA Apollo Twin. I researched USB to HDMI, Thunderbolt ports - all solutions either cost a bunch or became unreliable as new MacOS versions came out. Then it hit me - I had an old Apple TV collecting dust. Plugged it in and AirPlay worked like a charm!

Aug 24, 2017 1:55 PM in response to wickiemedia

j5 as mentioned earlier somewhat works. However, removes some monitor settings (not sure about speakers) For example, i'm using j5 for a second external monitor (first one is on thunderbolt) but it doesn't let me set rotation setting on the second monitor. I've seen reviews that j5 is not stable on mac so i'm sure there are other issues as well. If anybody knows of a better hdmi or vga to usb please post it!

Sep 17, 2014 10:59 AM in response to Esquared

HI

I have the exact same probleme as Wick. No use daisychaining a hub with 2 thunderbolt ports, it will not give you more thunderbolt ports. A true thunderbolt hub will have to have more than 2 thunderbolt ports, 1 in and at least 2 out and that doesn't exist.



My hardware: MacBook Pro mid 2012 (only 1 TB port), Apollo Twin Duo audio unit with (also 1 TB port) and Fujitsu 27 inch display with native resolution 2560x1440 if conned to either the LCD's DisplayPort or the Dual Link DVI.



So using a thunderbolt hub with HDMI or DVI-2 seems a solution.

My question is: will I get the needed bandwith to support full resolutio?



THanks for any good answer

Sep 26, 2014 10:23 AM in response to ToreT

That is exactly the same setup as I have. My question was regarding an Apollo audio interface as well.

I do think the Apollo will run quite the amount of bandwidth, but I also believe that there should be more than enough bandwidth to connect a second screen at full res. (As older UAD cards ran on either PCI or Firewire connectors..)


Apples specs for thunderbolt :

"Thunderbolt gives you two channels on the same connector with 10Gb/s of throughput in both directions."


True thunderbolt splitters seem to be a difficult problem at the moment.

I hope anyone has a solution for this...


In the mean time : If I run into anything I will make sure to post it here!

Sep 26, 2014 10:30 AM in response to chuck_3rd

Thanks for your suggestions.

Unfortunately I do agree that these are quite pricey alternatives, one solution could be :


MBP > Elgato Thunderbolt dock > Thunderbolt daisychain > UA Apollo audio interface

> HDMI Output > Monitor


But unfortunately this sets you back the price of the Elgato (230 USD) and in my opinion that's quite the price to just split my thunderbolt port which I believe could be so much easier!

Any smart developer should jump in this situation and release an awesome product 😉

Sep 26, 2014 11:27 AM in response to wickiemedia

Hi

thanks, but I wanted to be sure I got the native resolution on my Fujitsu 27 inch monitor, which is 2560x1440.

So I bought two Startech products:

TBDOCKHDPBC Thunderboltâ„¢ Docking Station

USB32DPPRO USB 3.0 to DisplayPort® Multi Monitor Adapter

priced $250 + $114

The docking station has 1x HDMI, 2x Thunderbolt and 3x USB3 and headphone and mic connectors + Thunderbolt cable

To get optimal resolution I bought the USB 3.0 to DisplayPort instead of using HDMI. This unit also came with USB3 cable.

Don't install the driver v1.1 which comes on the CD (it has a bad screen update rate), get v2.2 from startech.com, it works perfect.

I can now watch tube on the big screen and play guitar on the Apollo Twin Thunderbolt unit

Recommended!

Sep 14, 2016 2:40 PM in response to wickiemedia

I realize this was posted a while ago but I'm sure people will be having this problem for a long time to come so I wanted to offer the solution I used. I needed to split my thunderbolt in order to use my thunderbolt to hdmi adapter for an external display and the Apollo audio interface I had just gotten only uses thunderbolt.


I tried in vain to find an easy and inexpensive way to split the thunderbolt connection but eventually I happened upon a USB to HDMI adapter made by J5 electronics and it has worked flawlessly for over 6 months now. I had to download the driver for the device and since then it has worked with no problems in terms of image quality or latency and I would highly recommend it.

https://www.amazon.com/USB-HDMI-Display-Adapter-JUA350/dp/B0079VXOWO/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1473889166&sr=8-1&keywords=j…

Dec 14, 2016 11:55 PM in response to wickiemedia

What I did is LG DP out > UAD Sat in > UAD Sat out > UAD Apollo 8 in > UAD Apollo 8 out > Belkin TB dock 2 in > Belkin TB dock 2 out > WD My book pro with 2x 2TB ssd in > WD My book pro with 2x 2TB ssd out > MBP in.


1 chain, works like a charm.


Belkin had USB3 inputs and the My book pro also.


Unfortunately there is no hub on the market tha tI know of doing a split 1 in 2 or more out.

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Is there a thunderbolt splitting solution?

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