StarTech.com 2-Port USB-C Hub with Ethernet and RS-232, Attached USB-C to USB-A Dongle, 100W PD Pass-Through, 2x USB-A 5Gbps, Gigabit Ethernet, RS232 Serial (FTDI)

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £61 ex-VAT, this is a pretty solid “office dock in a cable” if you need dependable connectivity rather than a fancy laptop stand. The standout value is the combo of **Gigabit Ethernet + RS-232** on a small USB‑C hub. If you work with printers, barcode scanners, industrial kit, building systems, or any legacy serial device world where RS‑232 still pops up, having that port in one dongle saves you from hunting for separate adapters or paying for a bigger docking station you don’t actually want. USB-A ports at 5Gbps also make it reasonable for everyday peripherals and quick transfers.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. If your main goal is lots of high-bandwidth USB gear (external SSD arrays, heavy creative workflows) or multiple monitors, this is likely overkill for the USB side and it’s not trying to be a full workstation hub. Also, if you don’t *already* need **Ethernet and/or serial**, you’re paying for features you might never use. Finally, with hubs, reliability depends on your laptop’s USB‑C implementation—most work fine, but if your org has a mixed fleet, it’s worth sanity-checking before you roll it out widely.

**Who should buy:** UK businesses with staff who occasionally need wired network access and occasional serial connectivity (FTDI-style use cases), plus a couple of USB-A ports. **Who should not:** teams looking for a “one size fits all” modern multi-display dock or users who mainly need fast storage throughput.