I'm currently in the process of designing an #ExpansionCard for my new #FrameworkLaptop.
I need the #Unifying #dongle (lower latency), but don't want it sticking out and losing a whole slot.
So I'm going to throw a USB hub and the peeled dongle on a PCB and hope it all works out :D
As a further experiment, I routed the USB A SS lines past the hub (USB 2 D+/D- connected to port 1 of the hub).
Not sure if this will play nice with USB drivers, but it's worth a try.
*insert standard run-of-the-mill PCB assembly steps here*
Paste, place, reflow. Paste, place, reflow. Solder the rest of the components manually.
It went pretty normal, although the assembly order of the straddle-mount USB-C connector needed a bit of thought ^^
I ended up with this procedure:
- Reflow the top side without the connector
- Place it after the paste of the bottom side and put flux on the top side contacts
- Reflow bottom side with hot air
And with that, the #DongleHiderPlus is done!
It features room for 2-3 skinned dongles while still providing an external USB A 3 port.
I tested it and it works like a charm* !
The receiver and different USB 2 and even USB 3 devices worked on the first attempt.
Massive props to @frameworkcomputer for making the whole development process very easy, with all needed information already public and even supplying a base 3D-printing-ready #ExpansionCard model.
* The only issue I've found is when the card is plugged into one of the USB4 ports of an AMD Framework (13+16) and you connect a USB 3 device. Then the internal USB 2 dongle stops working.
This doesn't happen on the other, non-USB4 expansion card slots or with USB 2 devices.
So best to avoid the top two slots or USB 3 devices if you don't. ^^
GitHub repo: https://github.com/LeoDJ/FW-EC-DongleHiderPlus (I'll add some more documentation soon™)
I also assembled two more PCBs, as I had everything set up already.
Framework Expansion Card that includes a USB hub to hide a bare dongle inside and still have a USB-A port externally - LeoDJ/FW-EC-DongleHiderPlus
@LeoDJ
I'm a bit confused where the extra pads are for soldering/attaching additional dongles? I was wondering if there might be room for one of the kingston style micro sd readers, and where the pads would need to attach.
Also, I'm new to the PCB game and am not sure my youtube based know-how would enable me to assemble this. Before I attempt to order from JLCPCB, I was wondering if you had gotten enough interest for this to do a larger order?
LeoDJ
Le_Existentialist