What's the difference between a port replicator and a USB hub?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
V

virtuality

Member
Mar 22, 2013
138
0
71
In 2016 terms...

- If it only has USB ports on it, it's a hub
- If it has only USB ports, plus an Ethernet port, then is it already a port replicator?

Anyways, the Plugable brand seems to be a solid offer of these peripherals (good price/performance, good Amazon reviews across the board), in various flavors. Sadly, they seem to work only with Windows per the specs sheets, no Linux or OS X. Bummer.

For example.
 
J

JeffMD

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2002
2,026
19
81
port replicator is just another name for docking station or break out box. They have been around since laptops started removing common pc connections like serial and parallel, and are used even today as ultra thin notebooks remove everything except the power jack and a couple usb ports. It is a method of adding back common pc connections to laptops and tablets that have removed them.

MOST are proprietary as there is a special connector on the laptop or tablet that interfaces with a specific docking station. I see some port replicators however that just use USB 3.0. USB is a device interface so the replicator actually contains things like a sound card, port host, ethernet host, and 2d video display chip inside it for external connections.
 
V

virtuality

Member
Mar 22, 2013
138
0
71
JeffMD,

I understand you.

virtuality said:
In 2016 terms...

- If it only has USB ports on it, it's a hub
- If it has only USB ports, plus an Ethernet port, then is it already a port replicator?
Click to expand...

61XB4RnvNxL.jpg


So. Is this a hub or a replicator? Or, it just doesn't really matter (anymore in 2016)?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom