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Connectivity

Three Networks, One Cable: Meet the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dual 10GbE Network Dock

A first-of-its-kind, multi-network connectivity powerhouse for creators, IT, and live production.

Wayne Grayson • Sep 09, 2025

What if a single cable could drop your notebook into three separate networks, feed shared storage at up to 20 Gb/s, and still leave room for high-resolution displays and fast peripherals?

That’s the idea behind the new OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dual 10GbE Network Dock—a first-of-its-kind solution that blends two independent 10GbE ports, a convenient front 2.5GbE, three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports, and four 10Gb/s USB ports into one clean, portable hub. It’s the kind of dock you don’t just add to a setup—you build around it.

Why We Created a Dock With Dual 10GbE

Modern workflows are remarkably networked. Editors and colorists are pulling giant camera originals from NAS and returning finished masters just as quickly. Broadcast and live teams juggle private control networks, NDI video, and Dante audio. IT admins bounce between VLANs and lab environments while staying mobile.

Historically, tying all of that together meant a tangle of adapters, dongles, and a desk switch—plus compromises when the bandwidth ran out.

This dock flips that script. Plug in one Thunderbolt cable and you’re simultaneously on multiple networks, link-aggregating dual 10GbE for 20 Gb/s-class access to shared storage, and expanding your rig with Thunderbolt 5 for blazing NVMe, capture, and displays. It’s desktop-grade flexibility—without sacrificing portability.

No more Ethernet adapters, no more bulk, no more clutter. One cable, endless workflow possibilities.

Built for Audio, Broadcast, and Live Show Pros (Hello, Dante)

If your world revolves around Dante, this is a dream setup. Keep Dante traffic clean and predictable on the dedicated front 2.5GbE while the two rear 10GbE ports handle a private camera/NDI network and a wide-open lane to your NAS.

One cable to your Mac or PC, three networks segmented the way you want them, and headroom left over for the rest of your rig. It’s a calmer, more reliable show day.

Thunderbolt 5: The Bandwidth That Makes It Possible

In short, Thunderbolt 5 made this dock possible. Compared with Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gb/s link, Thunderbolt 5 doubles base throughput to 80 Gb/s and adds a 120 Gb/s Bandwidth Boost mode for display-heavy workloads. That extra headroom shows up everywhere: dual 10GbE can saturate simultaneously while your NVMe scratch and capture devices stay fast, and your displays keep their refresh without stealing bandwidth from storage or networking.

Thunderbolt 5 also brings the jump to DisplayPort 2.1 capabilities (via USB-C Alt Mode), enabling configurations like up to three 8K displays (host-dependent) or two 8K/120 with DSC—setups that would choke a TB4 chain. And under the hood, TB5 doubles available PCIe bandwidth versus TB4, which is why high-performance storage and pro I/O boxes feel snappier in real use.

Thunderbolt 5 doesn’t just add ports, and this dock is proof. It removes bottlenecks so the dock can truly act like a multi-network, multi-display, multi-device brain for your workstation.

Everyday Expansion Without the Compromises

But that's not to say Thunderbolt 5 doesn't also add ports!

Beyond networking, you get three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports to fan out fast storage, capture, and displays—organized into independent daisy chains so pulling a device on one chain doesn’t interrupt the others. Four 10 Gb/s USB ports keep bus-powered and legacy gear happy. The fanless aluminum design stays quiet on set and in control rooms.

And for Mac users, the dock supports ambitious display arrangements; just note that today’s macOS typically enables up to two native displays per connected Thunderbolt host port (additional displays are possible with driver-based solutions like DisplayLink).

Who It's For

If you build shows, mix Dante, manage multiple VLANs, or edit straight off shared storage, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dual 10GbE Network Dock lets you replace the dongle-and-switch circus with one reliable, high-bandwidth connection. Creative teams get faster round-trips to NAS. Broadcast and live crews get cleaner network segmentation. IT and power users get true multi-network mobility from a notebook.

Full Specs

Networking

  • Rear: 2 × 10GbE (RJ-45); Front: 1 × 2.5GbE (RJ-45)
  • Speeds supported: 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100 Mb
  • Link aggregation across the two 10GbE ports for up to 20 Gb/s to NAS/shared storage

Thunderbolt 5 & USB expansion

  • Host uplink: 1 × Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) — up to 80 Gb/s data; up to 120 Gb/s display bandwidth
  • Downstream: 3 × Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) — build three independent chains
  • USB: 1 × USB-C 10 Gb/s (up to 15 W), 3 × USB-A 10 Gb/s

Display Support (host-dependent)

  • Up to three 8K@60 with DSC, or two 8K@120 with DSC, or three 4K@144 with DSC
  • macOS currently enables up to two native displays per connected TB host port; more possible with DisplayLink-type solutions

Chipsets

Intel Barlow Ridge JHL-9480 (Thunderbolt), AQC113 (10GbE), RTL8156BG (2.5GbE), GL3590 (USB 3.2), Fresco Logic FL5801 (USB 2.0)

Power & Thermals

  • External 90 W power supply (19 V 90 W)
  • Fanless aluminum enclosure; security slot

System Requirements

  • Mac: Apple silicon (macOS 14.x+), Intel Mac (macOS 15.x+); TB5 Macs require macOS 15.3.x+
  • PC: Windows 11+; Linux supported (latest Ubuntu)
  • Host interface: Thunderbolt 5 / Thunderbolt 4 / Thunderbolt 3 (Mac only) / USB4

Dimensions & Weight

4.3″ W × 1.4″ H × 8.3″ D (10.8 × 3.5 × 21.2 cm); 2.0 lb (0.9 kg)

In the Box

Dock, 0.7 m Thunderbolt cable, 90 W PSU, digital manuals, OWC Dock Ejector app, 2-Year OWC Limited Warranty

Pricing & Availability

$499.00, available now at OWC

See it live at IBC 2025 (Sept 12–15, RAI Amsterdam, Booth 7.A60)

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