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Compact USB-A dongle with RJ45 port, matte black finish

EN-Labs

EN-Labs USB 3.0 Type A to 2.5Gbps Ethernet RJ45 Adapter

SKU CH-R2DW-J12TH

Adds a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port over USB 3.0 Type A with RTL8156B chipset, compatible with Mac OS, Windows and Linux

  • First connectorUSB Type A
  • Second connector1x 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet female
  • Add a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port via USB 3.0 Type A
  • Backward compatible with 1000 Mbps and 100 Mbps networks
  • RTL8156B chipset works on Mac OS, Windows and Linux
  • Supports Wake-on-LAN for remote power-on
  • Plug-and-play on Windows 10/11 and Mac OS

USB 3.0 to 2.5Gbps Ethernet Adapter

This adapter connects a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port to any USB 3.0 Type A socket. It suits users whose internal network card has failed, who need a second routable interface or who want faster peer-to-peer file transfers between workstations. The RTL8156B chipset provides driver-free operation on macOS, Windows 8/10/11 and Linux. Windows XP and 7 require a driver installation.

Thermals noise and power draw

The adapter draws power directly from the USB bus and uses the RTL8156B chipset with advanced power-management features such as LPM to keep consumption low during normal use. No active cooling is present so the device runs silently. When plugged into a USB 2.0 port the link falls back to 10/100 Mbps, further reducing power draw.

Replaces a faulty internal NIC

The upgrade is worthwhile when a built-in port has failed or when a separate network path is required for isolation or throughput. The jump from 1 Gbps to 2.5 Gbps yields 2.5 times the bandwidth over existing Cat5e or better cabling. Buyers who need more than one additional port or who rely on USB 2.0 only will not see the speed benefit.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in USB Adapter Cables & Dongles, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $16.99
Pricier than about 60% of the 1,430 comparable items (median $14.99).

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Specifications

Ports & slots
First connectorUSB Type A
Second connector1x 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet female

Questions about this item

How do I install the EN-Labs USB 3.0 to 2.5Gbps Ethernet adapter on Windows 7, and what step is often missed?

Plug the USB Type A connector into a USB 3.0 port, then install the driver package before expecting a network link; skipping the driver install is the common mistake on Windows 7.

What maintenance or replacement will the RTL8156B-based adapter need over time?

The adapter has no moving parts or user-serviceable components; if the USB port or RJ45 jack wears physically, replace the whole unit.

What speed limit appears first when I push sustained 2.5Gbps throughput through the USB 3.0 link?

The USB 3.0 bus caps practical throughput near 5Gbps raw, so sustained 2.5Gbps Ethernet traffic fits, but any USB 2.0 fallback drops you to 100Mbps.

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