Gigabit speeds not working through Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter

Macbook Pro model 13,3 running Mojave 10.14.1 Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0 connecting to ethernet using an Elgato 3 Thunderbolt dock. I already know the rest of the network infrastructure is fine and I can get Gigabit speeds via Wi-Fi on the laptop. The problem is that when connecting to ethernet via the Elgato dock the connection will only work if it is limited to 100TX. If I try to manually change the network connection to 1000baseT the adapter never "comes online", "connects", "goes from red to green", etc etc whatever you want to call it. It doesn't work, MacOS acts like it isn't plugged in.


I've been on the horn with Elgato support and they can't figure it out either. My coworker has the same model Macbook Pro and the same model Elgato 3 Dock and he gets gigabit just fine through it. The only difference is that he did not upgrade to Mojave.


Here's what I've tried so far, with no luck (These were instructions from Elgato):


1) Install the TB3D Utility. If it is installed, uninstall and then reinstall it. It can be found here: https://help.elgato.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2663912-how-do-i-install-the -thunderbolt%E2%84%A2-3-dock-utility-?b_id=360

2) Perform PRAM/SMC resets. Please review these articles before doing so: SMC reset: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295 PRAM/NVRAM reset: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

3) Create a new location: - Connect the Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock to the Mac. - Connect the Ethernet cable to the port on the Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock. - Go to the Apple menu, and choose System Preferences.... - Select the Network section. - Select "Edit Locations…" from the Locations menu. - Add a new Location, name it as you please, and then click Done - Click the Apply button at the lower right edge of the Network preference pane. - At this point, all the possible network interfaces that exist on your Mac are visible, including the Ethernet port of the Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock, which is labeled "Thunderbolt Ethernet Slot", along with a number - You may need to wait for up to 20 seconds before the red indicator to the left of "Thunderbolt Ethernet Slot 1, Port 2" changes to green.

4) Adjust the Duplex Option: - Unplug the Ethernet cable from your Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock - Go to the Apple menu, and choose System Preferences.... - Select the Network section - Select the Thunderbolt Ethernet Slot associated with the Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock - Press the "Advanced..." button, then press the "Hardware" tab. - Set Configure to "Manual", and select the speed of your router, like 100BaseTX - For Duplex, choose "full-duplex" only. Do not choose the "energy-efficient-ethernet" option. Keep the MTU setting as the default, like Standard (1500) - Press the "OK" button. - Press the "Apply" button. - Plug in the Ethernet cable into Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS Mojave (10.14.1), MacBookPro13,3

Posted on Nov 21, 2018 12:12 PM

Reply

Similar questions

2 replies

Nov 21, 2018 1:45 PM in response to waldorfa

The thing that troubles me with connecting that Elgato TB3 Dock to your late-2016 MBP running Mojave 10.14.1 is their comment regarding the Thunderbolt 3 Dock Utility:


macOS 10.11 El Capitan and later:

Did Elgato support officially state that this dock and its dock utility are fully compatible with Mojave? It is possible that their “and later” was never compiled for, or tested with Mojave, and either the Dock itself, or its Dock Utility are incompatible with Mojave 10.14.1. Not much we can do about that.

Did you and your co-worker sit down together, and walk through your individual settings for comparison, despite the differences in macOS versions?

Does Elgato provide firmware updates for this TB3 Dock, that you have not applied?

It would have been more efficient if you had used the  menu : About This Mac, and shared the MacBook Pro Late-2016 information, instead of the other cryptic stuff.

Nov 21, 2018 2:01 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for the advice on the About this Mac window to get answers more efficiently, I will do that in the future. Elgato support never stated to me that their dock works specifically on 10.14.1 or on any specific version of MacOS. I will ask them.


As for comparing settings with my coworker, which settings exactly should we be comparing? The network settings in system preferences? Those are identical for him and I except for him setting the "Thunderbolt Ethernet 1" object to "automatic" sets it to 1000baseT and full duplex whereas on my machine it sets it to 100TX and energy-efficient-ethernet. These are my power settings:


System-wide power settings:

Currently in use:

lidwake 1

autopoweroff 1

standbydelayhigh 86400

autopoweroffdelay 28800

proximitywake 1

standby 1

standbydelaylow 10800

ttyskeepawake 1

hibernatemode 3

powernap 0

gpuswitch 2

hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage

highstandbythreshold 50

womp 1

displaysleep 120

networkoversleep 0

sleep 0

tcpkeepalive 1

halfdim 1

acwake 0

disksleep 0

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Gigabit speeds not working through Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.