The Jeda USB Hub Aims To Solve USB Connectivity In The Tesla Model 3
The two lone USB ports in the front console of the Tesla Model 3 provide all of the data connectivity into the infotainment system of the vehicle. With so many wireless charging solutions, Tesla’s own Dash Camera, and USB music capabilities, USB hubs are becoming commonplace in the center console pocket along with a squirrel’s nest of wiring surrounding them.
Jeda entered the world of Tesla accessories with its Jeda Wireless Pad charging mat and quickly recognized the need for something more than the run-of-the-mill USB hubs that owners were using. Several months later, they are back with a new member of the Jeda family that they hope will solve the USB connectivity woes of owners while adding an extra layer of security at the same time.
The Jeda USB Hub is at its core, a custom USB charging and data hub for the Tesla Model 3. It not only adds extra standard USB ports, it adds two USB-C ports for next-generation device compatibility. The connectivity starts at the rear of the Jeda USB Hub, where two male standard USB connectors align perfectly with the two factory USB ports in the front of the center console in the Tesla Model 3.
The Jeda USB Hub was designed to install snugly in the center console, where it will blend in with the factory fit and finish of the console for an extra bit of security for your connected devices. Pro Tip: Removing the front door from the device (more on that later) allows for an easier installation. Because it is such a great fit in the vehicle, it takes some wiggling to get it into place and only takes a minute or two before you are up and running with new functionality.
After installing it into the car, the four front-facing USB ports can be seen. The flush mount ports on the front are comprised of two standard USB ports and two USB-C ports that make connecting your older and newer devices that much easier. That’s fine and all, but the exciting part of the Jeda USB Hub is in the lower, concealed section of the hub.
A quick push on the lower section of the Jeda USB Hub opens up a magnetically-held door that conceals a small compartment, lined in slick red silicone material. The compartment hosts another standard USB port and includes a small standard USB to USB-C dongle. The hidden nook was designed specifically to hold larger standard USB and USB-C flash drives that owners can use to store their Tesla Sentry and Dash Camera footage. A small included metal plate can also be affixed to the flash drive which allows it to be held in place by an integrated magnet.
It’s a slick arrangement that elevates the Jeda USB Hub above your standard USB hub that leaves wires and drives dangling tenuously from the factory USB ports. The beauty of the compartment and the Jeda USB Hub is that once the new drive is installed and the door is closed, the entire arrangement is so integrated that it is almost invisible. That’s key if anyone ever manages to break into your car and knows about the USB recording functionality of Sentry Mode. A quick search would only reveal the external USB drives, leaving the larger flash drive safe and secure in the hidden compartment.
Its tight integration with the vehicle, combination of standard and USB-C ports and the hidden flash drive compartment do make a compelling case, but its $79 price tag is a high wall to overcome. The Jeda USB Hub is available today at getjeda.com. Existing Jeda Wireless Pad owners can get it for $10 off or you can get a discount by bundling it with a new Jeda Wireless Pad. That’s a steep price for a USB hub, but Jeda clearly sees its offering as a premium product with a price to match.
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