MacBook Pro USB-C adapter and regular USB devices compatibility

macbook prothunderboltusb

I got a new MacBook Pro from late 2016, MacOS Sierra, 2 thunderbolt 3 ports.

In this machine I need to plug in one external monitor via HDMI, and a few USB devices (mouse and keyboards). For this I bought an adapter that plugs in to the Mac's USB-C port, and supplies two USB 3.1 ports, one HDMI port and a power delivery for the USB-C power supply. The adapter is: Promate uniHub-C (https://www.promate.net/products/unihub-c)

The power supply works, when I plug in the power cable to the adapter, the computer charges.

The HDMI works with another monitor.

My external USB hard drive works, so the mouse/keyboard issue feels strange.

When I have a USB keyboard plugged in, and an external hard drive – the System Report > USB shows as follows. The keyboard and the hard drive are both plugged in to the uniHub-C.

In the finder I see the hard drive though, seems to work well.

Screenshot showing the System report
System report

Screenshot showing that the finder can find the connected hard drive
My Passport is found

Here is the problem: the USB slots doesn't seem to do much. When I plug in mouse and keyboard in the adapter, nothing happens. I was worried that perhaps I need another kind of USB-C => USB 3 adapter for regular USB devices to work, but I can't confirm that.

How can I verify I have an active connection in each USB slot?

Best Answer

It looks like this particular product (uniHub-C) has its own idea about compliance to USB specifications. The designers seem to cut off the USB 2.0 part of the VIA hub design. First sign is that their marketing blurb doesn't mention support for legacy (HS, FS, LS) devices, which is strange - in marketing, more is merrier. Second, the web page shows some goofy "USB Super-fast" logo, which in no way corresponds to the official USB-IF certification logo,

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I suspect you fall for a wrong device.