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 Currently looking into ordering a bunch on JLCPCB together with @koen but since I have no prior experience there, I will wait for some help from a friend.
Main issue I ran into is that it seems to put the USB-C connector in the wrong place and they don't have the USB3-A in stock.
Something we'll look into, hopefully later this week.
LeoDJ
Wheeze_NL
Koen de Jonge - SynQ