More of us have been working from home with a variety of office setups so we can work as productively as possible. Personally, I feel far more productive when I’m at a desk with an external monitor and a proper keyboard for a laptop. If I had to work in a Starbucks or while sitting on a sofa, I don’t think I’d get much work done.
If you’re one of those homeworkers, I have something here that could make working from home much easier. The Plugable USB UD-CA1A is a mains-powered hub that can handle AC input voltages ranging from 100 – 240V 50/60 Hz. The hub provides an affordable way to turn a laptop into a desktop workstation that can be used horizontally or vertically, using the provided stand to save valuable desk space.
The Plugable UD-CA1A can deliver up to 60W of power via USB C, which is sufficient muscle to power most compatible laptops. A two-way USB-C cable is included in the box and it transfers power as well as data, graphics, audio, and Ethernet connections. Just plug in the one USB C cable and the system is ready to go.
The beauty of a desktop hub like the Plugable UD-CA1A is its capability to provide power for a laptop, as well as all the other connections for printers, monitors, plus a link to an Internet router, and audio input and output. Unlike a portable USB-C hub that many laptop users already use, there’s no need to plug in cables every time you use the hub, and it can be left all set up and ready to go.
As well as the USB-C power and data connection, the Plugable UD-CA1A provides two USB 2.0 ports for permanently connecting peripherals like printers, mice and keyboards. Next to the two USB ports is a 4K HDMI 1.4 port for driving an external monitor, plus a Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to a router or switch to get access to the Internet and network devices.
At the front of the unit are three USB 3.0 ports for connecting memory card readers, hard drives, USB headsets, or just about anything else that you might want to plug in. There’s also a 3.5mm microphone input and headphone output for chatting on Skype, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.
The hub has a blue LED that glows when the hub is turned on. The unit is powered by a 20v power supply that can delivers sufficient juice to run compatible laptops via USB C power input. When power is being drawn by a laptop, a green lightning flash on the front of the hub lights up to show the laptop is charging properly.
I tested the hub using a portable USB hard drive connected via the UD-CA1A hub and then tested the speed again with the drive plugged directly into one of the iMac’s USB 3.0 ports. The data transfer was faster when the drive was connected directly to the iMac. A 1.25GB folder of files took 78 seconds to copy over via the hub and just 30.45 seconds when plugged into the iMac. So, don’t expect to get the fastest transfer speeds but the convenience of having a hub permanently in place with a laptop power supply is a big advantage
Verdict: The Plugable UD-CA1A hub is a versatile and well-built device that’s ideal for a home office setup for a laptop user. It’s also a handy addition for a desktop computer as the PC can then be tucked out of the way, leaving more valuable desk spacek. The Plugable UD-CA1A offers good value for money and feels robust enough to withstand plenty of plugging and unplugging.
Pricing: $99
More info: www.plugable.com
Specifications:
- One HDMI 1.4 output for mirroring or extending a desktop to an external monitor
- One USB-C port with Power Delivery functionality to charge host computer
- Five USB (Type-A) ports; three USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports
- One Gigabit Ethernet port
- Headphone and microphone ports
- Stand for vertical or horizontal orientation
