We take cryptocurrency — so the coins you hold can buy real hardware.Pay in crypto, spend it on real hardware. Free insured shipping worldwide over $399. Plain, unbranded boxes, sent from Germany.Free insured shipping over $399. Your rate is locked for 30 minutes once checkout opens.Rate locked 30 minutes. Every item sealed, serial-checked and covered by a 24-month warranty.Sealed, 24-month warranty.

Saved items Sign in
Compact black USB-A dongle with RJ45 port and short cable

STARTECH

STARTECH US2GA30 2.5GbE USB 3.1 Type-A to RJ45 Ethernet Adapter

SKU CH-MKHB-QE7DX MPN US2GA30

Adds a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port via USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A with 2.5G/1G/100 Mbps auto-negotiation and VLAN tagging support

  • Product typeEthernet Adapter
  • DetailsBus Type: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Chipset ID: Realtek - RTL8156 Indust
  • 5 Gbps network speed backed by IEEE 802.3bz 2.5GBase-T standard
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 bus delivers 5 Gbps bandwidth for full 2.5G throughput
  • Auto-negotiates 2.5G, 1G and 100 Mbps links for broad LAN compatibility
  • Realtek RTL8156 chipset supports 16K jumbo frames and VLAN tagging
  • USB Type-A plug works with existing laptops and workstations without new ports

USB 3.1 Gen 1 2.5GbE Adapter

The STARTECH US2GA30 adds a 2.5GBase-T RJ45 port to any system with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A socket. It targets users who need multi-gigabit wired throughput on laptops or workstations lacking an onboard 2.5 GbE controller. The Realtek RTL8156 chipset negotiates 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps, 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps links automatically. VLAN tagging and jumbo frames up to 16K are supported for managed-network workloads.

Passive thermals and bus power

No fan or external supply is required; the adapter draws power directly from the USB 3.1 Gen 1 bus. The aluminium casing acts as a heatsink, keeping the RTL8156 within operating limits during sustained 2.5 Gbps transfers. Acoustic output is effectively zero because there are no moving parts. Full-duplex operation and IEEE 802.3x flow control prevent frame loss without adding latency.

Plug-and-play network upgrade

Driver support is built into current Windows, macOS and Linux kernels, so the link activates on insertion without extra software. Auto-MDIX removes the need for crossover cables. The single RJ45 jack frees the host’s existing Ethernet port for a separate subnet or failover link. MTBF is rated at 10,000 hours, reflecting the absence of mechanical wear points.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Patch Panels, PoE & LAN Adapters, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $32.99
Cheaper than about 68% of the 559 comparable items (median $56.99).

Specifications

Product
Brand nameStarTech.com
Model nameUS2GA30
Part numberUSB 3.0 Type-A To 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter - 2.5GBase-T
Product typeEthernet Adapter
Size & build
Shipping weight0.45 kg
Package size152 × 102 × 76 mm

Questions about this item

How do I install the StarTech US2GA30 on a laptop that only has USB 3.0 Type-A ports?

Plug the adapter into any USB 3.0 Type-A port; the Realtek RTL8156 chipset uses the USB 3.1 Gen 1 bus and will negotiate 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps or 100 Mbps automatically.

What part of the US2GA30 is most likely to wear out first?

The RJ45 port is rated for an MTBF of 10,000 hours; the USB Type-A connector and cable are fixed, so the Ethernet jack sees the most insertions.

At sustained throughput, which limit appears first — the 2.5 GbE link or the USB 3.1 Gen 1 bus?

The USB 3.1 Gen 1 bus caps at 5 Gbps, so the 2.5 GbE link never saturates the bus; thermal throttling of the RTL8156 is the practical ceiling.

More in Patch Panels, PoE & LAN Adapters

Similar items