For the 2019-20 academic year we are issuing most MacBook users with a VAVA USB-C hub, which provides a useful set of ports to connect the MacBook to the campus network and various peripherals. Unlike the Thunderbolt 3 docks which were issued in previous years the hub is not intended to power the laptop – the power supply should be used for that, with the hub plugged into the other Thunderbolt port on the MacBook.

The hub is a small black plastic wedge which has its own power supply – that should be plugged into the mains before the hub is connected to the computer.

The hub provides the following ports:

• 2 USB-3 (blue inset)
• 1 USB-2 (black inset)
• Gigabit ethernet (RJ45)
• HDMI
• SD and micro-SD readers

It also features a USB-C Power Delivery port which allows you to use the laptop power supply to run the hub; power is then also passed along to the computer. This is superficially attractive, but since the hub requires power to run, the laptop does not get charged up as quickly as it would when plugged in directly. In addition the hub may get quite hot in this configuration, so I strongly recommend plugging the laptop charger directly into the MacBook.

The School IT staff will have registered the gigabit port on the hub for access to the campus network, and arranged for a suitable network point to be enabled. They will also provide you with a network cable. The network registration will be linked to the inventory number of the MacBook Pro and there will be a label on the hub which shows that information – please do not remove the label.