Questions & Answers for Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
96 Questions + 138 Answers
96 Questions from the Community
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Answer
Yes. OSX 10.7.2 up.
- Answered by Max W from Pacific Palicades
- 18/12/2013
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does it work with a 13" macbook air brought in 2012 version OS X 10.8.4?)
Apple Responds
System Requirements: OS X v10.7.4 or Later and Thunderbolt-equipped Mac computer
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Do you need a special internet connection to use this or is it just like the USB ethernet adapter?
I have a MacBook Air and the USB ethernet adapter. I'm getting the new Macbook Pro with Retina display. So would this be a good idea to buy this adapter to Thunderbolt instead of using the the USB adapter? Would I get a better connecting? Would I need a special internet connection or will any due?
- Asked by Chase H from Saint Marys
- 12/06/2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Do you need a special internet connection to use this or is it just like the USB ethernet adapter?)
Best Answer:This product will work exactly like the USB 10/100 Ethernet Adapter, but instead use your Thunderbolt port. It does not need any special type of internet connection, just standard RJ-45 ethernet cabling. It will work with any new Mac with a Thunderbolt port, along with any Mac that has a Thunderbolt port (excluding MiniDisplay port).
This adapter will have much faster speeds than the prior USB version because it is Gigabit (10/100/1000 vs 10/100 for the USB Ethernet Adapter). As long as you have a Thunderbolt port, I would highly recommend using this one if you are debating between the two.- Answered by Jeffrey Y from Westmont
- 14/06/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Do you need a special internet connection to use this or is it just like the USB ethernet adapter?)
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Full gigabit speeds?
I just got CenturyLink Gigabit service, and the fastest speeds I can get ising this adapter is around 650Mbps down/800Mbs up. The CenturyLink installer says it's a limitation of my hardware, and that only fairly new machines will actually get the full 1000Mbs / 1000Mbs speeds.
Mid-2012 MBP Retina, which has no ethernet so I'm using this adapter.
Does anyone know if there are limits in the adapter, older Macs, or...? If I get a new MBP but it turns out it's the adapter that is chocking things, then I won't see any benefit on that front.- Asked by Allen M from Bellingham
- 25/05/2017
- Flag as inappropriate (Full gigabit speeds?)
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Can this adapter be daisy chained to my computer via a thunderbolt external hard drive?
I have a Macbook Air with only one Thunderbolt port which is currently used for an external Thunderbolt hard drive. Can I connect this adapter to the Thunderbolt port on my external hard drive to have a wired internet connection at the end of the daisy-chain?
- Asked by Mark W from San Francisco
- 25/01/2015
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this adapter be daisy chained to my computer via a thunderbolt external hard drive?)
Answeryes
- Answered by Andreas G
- 17/04/2015
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this adapter be daisy chained to my computer via a thunderbolt external hard drive?)
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Best Answer:
I used the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter and Migration Assisstant between 2012 MBPr and 2008 MBP without any problems - just plug and play :-)
- Answered by Iain M from Lavington
- 5/02/2013
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I use the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter w/ migrate assistant from an older mac to a current Macbook Air?)
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Connecting two displays to an imac 27 (stronger graphic card)
I will buy the new imac 27 with the stronger graphic card
Can I connect to the imac an cinema display 30i and another 25i apple screen?- Asked by Erich H B
- 5/12/2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Connecting two displays to an imac 27 (stronger graphic card))
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Answer
Yes, this adapter will work with any Mac with a Thunderbolt port. Be careful not to mistake the MiniDisplayPort on Macs from a couple years ago with the Tunderbolt port, as the MiniDisplayPort is not compatible with this product.
- Answered by Jeffrey Y from Westmont
- 14/06/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this work with older Thuderbolt equipped machines?)
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Can I plug in another computer in the thunderbolt ethernet adapter? Ex, can I plug in a Blue Ray player with internet in the adapter?
Use it like an extra internet connection.
- Asked by Miguel R from Orlando
- 30/07/2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Can I plug in another computer in the thunderbolt ethernet adapter? Ex, can I plug in a Blue Ray player with internet in the adapter?)
Best Answer:Probably.
But, an ethernet hub would be far more practical. (an extra 4 or 8 ports without keeping your computer powered up to route enet to a blue ray player)- Answered by Chris S from San Jose
- 5/09/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I plug in another computer in the thunderbolt ethernet adapter? Ex, can I plug in a Blue Ray player with internet in the adapter?)
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what connection do i need to connect to a BT landline
I only have a BT landline without a router can I connect directly to the BTconnection
- Asked by Russell F
- 17/03/2013
- Flag as inappropriate (what connection do i need to connect to a BT landline)
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Sonos Bridge and Play 3 compatability with Macbook Pro and this Thunderbolt to ethernet adapter?
I'm wondering if my Macbook Pro(Late 2012) has the capability, and if so how to adjust the network settings to cater the needs of a Sonos Bridge to emit its own wireless network so I can play my Sonos speakers from a wireless network from a hotel. ( I won't have access to a hardline ethernet port or router ) I'm going on vacation and am hoping to bring my speaker to have some tunes with in Mexico. If my computer is capable of supporting the right internet accessibility to the bridge I will most definitely be buying this thunderbolt to ethernet adapter to connect the Bridge and thus connect all my Sonos speakers. I'm at a loss and not sure how to understand and be sure my network settings can receive a wireless signal and create an output from my computer to the bridge, or if this adapter is only for inputting a hardline ethernet internet cord for my macbook. Boils down to an input/output question with wireless internet network capabilities. Any help or additional information would be greatly appreciated as my trip is in three weeks time! Thanks again. - Rob
- Asked by Robert W from Tonka Bay
- 7/03/2014
- Flag as inappropriate (Sonos Bridge and Play 3 compatability with Macbook Pro and this Thunderbolt to ethernet adapter?)
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can and if so how will this work with the 2015 macbook?
im concedering buying a new macbook. i want this to work
- Asked by Ian W
- 9/02/2016
- Flag as inappropriate (can and if so how will this work with the 2015 macbook?)
AnswerWell you would plug it into the thunderbolt port on the side of your laptop, from there you would just (like a regular laptop) plug the ethernet cable in and your mac should automatically detect and connect to the ethernet! :)
- Answered by Baruch C
- 8/11/2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (can and if so how will this work with the 2015 macbook?)
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Answer
No, I have tested this.
- Answered by Joshua G from Ft Lauderdale
- 3/11/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can you use this on a GE port of a Mac Pro tower to connect to a thunderbolt raid?)
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What cable is used with the thunderbolt to gigabit adapter?
The gigabit connector on the visualization of the adapter seems to look thinner than the standard connector to the ethernet modem.
- Asked by Donald C from Longview
- 12/10/2016
- Flag as inappropriate (What cable is used with the thunderbolt to gigabit adapter?)
AnswerThis adapter has a jack that accepts any RJ-45 cable that has all 8 conductors present and properly terminated. If fewer than 8 wires are present in your cable, the adapter will not be able to attain Gigabit speeds.
The visualization shows a view from above the jack, so it is visually reduced in height. An RJ-45 jack viewed head-on is nearly square and has 8 contacts.- Answered by Grant B from Natick
- 8/12/2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (What cable is used with the thunderbolt to gigabit adapter?)
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Does this adapter work on previous generation thunderbolt macs?
- Asked by Joel A from Virginia
- 12/06/2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Does this adapter work on previous generation thunderbolt macs?)
Answeryes
but you have to install tunderbolt update 1.2.1 manuel on OS X Lion 10.7.4- Answered by Anders J
- 20/06/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does this adapter work on previous generation thunderbolt macs?)
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Can this be used to connect a Thunderbolt only storage device (i.e. Promise Pegasus R6 18TB) to a Gigabite Ethernet Hub?
Our studio is doing a budget report to see if we can go 100% Mac. Currently we have 2 x 4TB storage servers that we'd like to replace with some of those great Promise storage units like the Pegasus R6 18TB. However those are thunderbolt only units, so we were wondering if the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter could be used to connect it to a network hub?
- Asked by Brandon M from Westland
- 14/02/2013
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this be used to connect a Thunderbolt only storage device (i.e. Promise Pegasus R6 18TB) to a Gigabite Ethernet Hub?)
Best Answer:Dear Brandon,
I was researching an answer to this very question. I have tried using the Thurderbolt to ethernet adapter to connect the Pegasus to my home network. The light on my network switch, and on my Time Capsulte router when I also tried that option, did not come on, suggesting that it is not possible to include the Pegasus into the network. The reason I was researching was because I want to locate the Pegasus elsewhere than next to, and directly linked to, my Mac. I'm still looking for a definitive answer because I may have been doing something wrong, or failed to do something in addition.- Answered by Colleen W from Topsham
- 8/07/2013
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this be used to connect a Thunderbolt only storage device (i.e. Promise Pegasus R6 18TB) to a Gigabite Ethernet Hub?)
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I'm considering purchasing a NAS device, can I turn my NAS drive into a "Thunderbolt" external hard drive with this adapter?
I understand the speed limitations of ethernet versus Thunderbolt (1GBs vs 10GBs) but my understanding is that the speed that information is acquired/written is based on the speed of the disk itself (i.e. 7200 rpm) or protocol of the drive SATA I/II/II (1.5GBs/3GBs/6GBs).
If I could hook up the NAS drive to Thunderbolt, the performance would be better than my Firewire 800, although marginally, but the price of creating a RAID drive would be fairly inexpensive as diskless NAS is significantly more cost effective than FW800 or Thunderbolt ... (and Thunderbolt only really makes sense with SSD). My real limitation is that I only have USB 2.0 ... or Firewire 800.
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?
Thanks,
J- Asked by Johannes M from Toronto
- 2/10/2013
- Flag as inappropriate (I'm considering purchasing a NAS device, can I turn my NAS drive into a "Thunderbolt" external hard drive with this adapter?)
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Answer
Your current iMac should already have gigabit Ethernet installed in it. So using this Gigabit Thunderbolt adapter shouldn't increase your speed since both are still using Gigabit Ethernet. Based on reviews from other sites it might actually be slightly slower than the built in Ethernet and use more CPU power.
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Is it a security risk to connect this to a Thunderbolt equipped hard drive?
If I connect the Mac to a thunderbolt equipped hard drive and then connect the Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter to the hard drive, is it a security risk?
ie. is the hard drive exposed to internet attacks before they reach the Mac?- Asked by Gregory A
- 4/11/2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Is it a security risk to connect this to a Thunderbolt equipped hard drive?)
AnswerNo, because the hard drive does not have the software required to access the Ethernet adapter.
Only the computer will see the ethernet port.- Answered by Matthew T
- 15/12/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is it a security risk to connect this to a Thunderbolt equipped hard drive?)
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Can I use this cable to hook up Time Capsule to my new Macbook Pro with retina display so I can get all files across?
I am waiting for my new Macbook Pro with retina display to arrive. To hook up the time capsule to restore a hard drive on my last Macbook Pro (six years old and still going strong!!) I used an ethernet cable. I am just wondering what to use now?
AnswerYes, It will work on any Apple brand backup device. BTW enjoy your new MacBook when it arrives. It is a beast. With the 3.O USB (512gb SSHD) I up load at an average rate of 150mbs. ENJOY!!!
- Answered by Jo M from Huntersville
- 1/08/2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I use this cable to hook up Time Capsule to my new Macbook Pro with retina display so I can get all files across?)