If your Chromebook does not have an ethernet port, it will be difficult to connect it to your internet BOX without going through WiFi…however there are some alternative solutions.
Chromebooks are portable computers which have the bare minimum number of hardware components required to function, meaning that a lot of its connectivity relies on WiFi and Bluetooth; Chromebooks do of course have USB ports and will oftentimes have an HDMI port. However, many people have asked us the following question:
How can I connect my Chromebook to my internet BOX via ethernet?
We have searched for a solution to this question; the most interesting solution that we were able to come up with is to use a USB < > Ethernet adapter. But there are a few things you should consider before buying one.
Given that the adapter will need to be connected to one of your Chromebook’s USB ports, it would be a good idea to choose a USB 3.0 device which will not only perform faster but will also consume less power. Since the adapter will monopolize one of your USB ports, you should also consider using a HUB system which, as an added bonus, will provide you with additional USB ports!
After taking these factors into consideration, we began searching for the ideal adapter – the one with the best quality to price ratio.
The most interesting solution we found is an adapter by Inateck – a manufacturer which also sells protective sleeves for Chromebooks. It’s model HBU3VL3-4 adapter caught our attention since it has all of the characteristics that we were looking for.
It is not a simple adapter like the kind that can be found here and there across the internet, but rather a HUB with a connecting cable only a few centimeters long so that it will not “dangle” on the side of your Chromebook – making it much less fragile than a conventional USB key.
It is also equipped with the feature we are most interested in: a USB < > Ethernet adapter. It has one male USB 3.0 connector to connect it to your Chromebook in addition to a HUB with 3 female USB 3.0 ports.
Implementation and mode of operation:
Chromebooks are unquestionably the easiest computers to use, they do not require any drivers or the configuration of any parameters. As a result, in order to use the HBU3VL3-4 HUB all you will need to do is connect it to one of your Chromebook’s USB 3.0 ports.
Reminder: if your Chromebook has more than one USB port, in order to tell which one is the 3.0 version, simply look at the port’s color:
- Black = Version 2.0
- Blue = Version 3.0
As a last step, connect one end of your ethernet cable to the female connector of your internet BOX and the other end to the female connector of your HUB.
You can tell that the ethernet connection has been established by looking at the icon in the taskbar at the bottom right-hand side of the screen – near your account picture.
That’s it, you can now begin surfing!
Well built, Inateck’s HBU3VL3-4 HUB does not disappoint. Its short and large diameter cable are not subject to losses, it has a sober black and chrome design and, above all, it is very affordable for a product of such good quality: expect to pay $19.99 – delivery included.
If you are interested in buying one of these HUBs, visit Inateck’s Amazon page by clicking the button below:
Read more:
Best Laptops under 300
Best Laptops for College Students under 500