--- canonical: https://solariz.de/posts/26/02_usb-travel-dongle/index.md --- Not an lenghy Article, just posting my findings for whoever may need it. ## The Hardware: i-tec USB-C 4K Metall Nano Docking Station Named by the bulky name `i-tec USB-C 4K Metall Nano Docking Station 1x HDMI 1x GLAN 3x USB 3.0 1x SD/MicroSD 1x Audio Power Delivery 100W` I found mine on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07M6WV1J4). Port-wise, it has what I need. Mostly I use this kind of light dock if I work remotely or at events to attach one screen, network, mouse and have it charging my laptop. So I can quickly grab it when I need to go somewhere. ![itec USB-C Travel Dongle](https://solariz.de/posts/26/02_usb-travel-dongle/itec-usbc-pd-traveldock.jpg) ### dmesg On my Fedora 43 quick dmesg log when plugging in the dock. I had plugged in 2 USB devices, an HDMI screen, network, and a 90W USB-C PD charger. With some previous adapters, I had the issue that they were very picky about which port I used on [my laptop](https://solariz.de/uses), but this one didn't care much. ```txt [13572.247251] usb 3-1: new high-speed USB device number 18 using xhci_hcd [13572.337179] usb 2-1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 9 using xhci_hcd [13572.358474] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=05e3, idProduct=0626, bcdDevice= 6.63 [13572.358485] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [13572.358488] usb 2-1: Product: USB3.1 Hub [13572.358490] usb 2-1: Manufacturer: GenesysLogic [13572.361782] hub 2-1:1.0: USB hub found [13572.362684] hub 2-1:1.0: 4 ports detected [13572.375448] usb 3-1: New USB device found, idVendor=05e3, idProduct=0610, bcdDevice= 6.63 [13572.375453] usb 3-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [13572.375454] usb 3-1: Product: USB2.1 Hub [13572.375455] usb 3-1: Manufacturer: GenesysLogic [13572.376617] hub 3-1:1.0: USB hub found [13572.376853] hub 3-1:1.0: 4 ports detected [13572.661967] usb 2-1: USB disconnect, device number 9 [13572.678131] usb 3-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 19 using xhci_hcd [13572.777167] usb 3-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=1a40, idProduct=0101, bcdDevice= 1.11 [13572.777175] usb 3-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0 [13572.777177] usb 3-1.1: Product: USB 2.0 Hub [13572.778587] hub 3-1.1:1.0: USB hub found [13572.778612] hub 3-1.1:1.0: 4 ports detected [13572.877336] usb 3-1.2: new full-speed USB device number 20 using xhci_hcd [13572.979025] usb 3-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=1e7d, idProduct=319c, bcdDevice= 1.00 [13572.979038] usb 3-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [13572.979041] usb 3-1.2: Product: ROCCAT Isku [13572.979043] usb 3-1.2: Manufacturer: ROCCAT [13573.884908] usb 2-1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd [13573.905813] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=05e3, idProduct=0626, bcdDevice= 6.63 [13573.905821] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [13573.905823] usb 2-1: Product: USB3.1 Hub [13573.905825] usb 2-1: Manufacturer: GenesysLogic [13573.908298] hub 2-1:1.0: USB hub found [13573.909336] hub 2-1:1.0: 4 ports detected [13574.192045] usb 2-1.1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 11 using xhci_hcd [13574.211934] usb 2-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0b95, idProduct=1790, bcdDevice= 2.00 [13574.211939] usb 2-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3 [13574.211941] usb 2-1.1: Product: AX88179B [13574.211942] usb 2-1.1: Manufacturer: ASIX [13574.211943] usb 2-1.1: SerialNumber: 0034298FXXXXXX [13574.264676] cdc_ncm 2-1.1:2.0: MAC-Address: 98:fc:84:XX:XX:XX [13574.264687] cdc_ncm 2-1.1:2.0: setting rx_max = 16384 [13574.265125] cdc_ncm 2-1.1:2.0: setting tx_max = 16384 [13574.265667] cdc_ncm 2-1.1:2.0 eth1: register 'cdc_ncm' at usb-0000:00:0d.0-1.1, CDC NCM (NO ZLP), 98:fc:84:xx:xx:xx [13574.270671] usb 3-1.3: new full-speed USB device number 22 using xhci_hcd [13574.376775] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0461, idProduct=4e9d, bcdDevice= 2.12 [13574.376787] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [13574.376789] usb 3-1.3: Product: Alienware 610M [13574.376792] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: DELL ``` For the Resolution it can do: 1x HDMI up to 4K/60 Hz **or** 1x HDMI up to 1080p/120 Hz For my 2nd Screen this is fine for me, 4k 100hz would be awesome but you have to know the limitations of those non Thunderbolt docks. ### Charging With some other, specially Anker USB-C Adapters I had issues with the PD Passthrough >65W but this one did not gave any error. ```yaml battery present: yes rechargeable: yes state: charging warning-level: none ``` ### Network Speedtest Used iperf3 to do a quick Speedtest, totally in the Range of what to expect: ```txt # P8 [SUM] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.13 GBytes 972 Mbits/sec 1021 sender [SUM] 0.00-10.15 sec 1.11 GBytes 938 Mbits/sec receiver # P8R [SUM] 0.00-10.14 sec 1.10 GBytes 928 Mbits/sec 10789 sender [SUM] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.09 GBytes 938 Mbits/sec receiver ``` ### SD Card Reader Tested the MicroSD Card Reader with a SanDisk High Endurance V30 XC 1 [3] 64GB ```bash # Sequential read bw=22.7MiB/s (23.8MB/s), 22.7MiB/s-22.7MiB/s (23.8MB/s-23.8MB/s), io=1365MiB (1431MB), run=60019-60019msec # Sequential write bw=22.3MiB/s (23.4MB/s), 22.3MiB/s-22.3MiB/s (23.4MB/s-23.4MB/s), io=1340MiB (1405MB), run=60046-60046msec ``` Results here are a bit disappointing; the same SD card on a USB3.1 reader gives me 90MiB/s read and and 80MiB/s write. Tested both the Micro and the normal SD card slot (via Adapter) no difference. If I use the USB Reader on the dongles USB port, I still get ~90 so clearly a bad SD Adapter build in not the general Bandwidth. ## Conclusion For my usecase this USB-C Adapter is fine, most important functions for me work as they should out of the box. I rarley need to work with this SD Card reader on the dock, because my laptop have a build in one. But if you rely heavy on this feature spare this Adapter. Beside that 👍