Can't get USB-C Dock to Work Right

Forums › Desktop computing › Can't get USB-C Dock to Work Right

solaybro

633 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 228

Trusted

#304504 9-May-2023 20:20

I bought a Targus Dock182AUZ recently and I cannot get it to connect first try. I plug it into my laptop and it makes the device connected sound and the battery icon changes to show it is charging and then it makes the disconnect sound and it no longer shows it's charging. The only way I have been able to get it to work is to unplug the power from the dock and plug it back in over and over until it eventually works. Plugging it into my work laptop has the same issue.

I have installed the displaylink app from the Microsoft store which handles the drivers
I have tried multiple ports on my laptop
I have no errors in the device manager
Targus suggested I buy a new USB-C cable but I don't think it's a broken cable given once it does start working it's fine until the next time I plug it in.

The other issue I am having only on my work laptop is the frame rate on both monitors is bad. It must be down at <30. This issue is only on my work laptop though which is a surface laptop 4.

Does anyone know what I can do to try and fix this?

Thanks

Wombat1

586 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 409
Inactive user

#3074356 9-May-2023 21:47

Have a similar problem with one of my laptops, it wont work through the dock unless I also power the laptop with its own power supply. I think these docks dont supply enough power over the USBC cable and the more power hungry laptops wont work. Another laptop I have just works fine with just the USBC plugged in.

Regarding the bad frame rate on both monitors issue, make sure the correct device drivers are installed for your monitors and the refresh rate is set correctly.

SATTV

1671 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 659

ID Verified

#3074358 9-May-2023 21:56

Wombat1:

Have a similar problem with one of my laptops, it wont work through the dock unless I also power the laptop with its own power supply. I think these docks dont supply enough power over the USBC cable and the more power hungry laptops wont work. Another laptop I have just works fine with just the USBC plugged in.

Regarding the bad frame rate on both monitors issue, make sure the correct device drivers are installed for your monitors and the refresh rate is set correctly.

Yes you do have to upgrade the PSU from the std 65W to 90W, I have made this mistake on a travel dock before.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

solaybro

633 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 228

Trusted

#3074381 9-May-2023 23:51

The website says the PSU is 150W so it should be fine. I have also tried plugging it in while having the regular laptop charger plugged in and it doesn't work.

antoniosk

2387 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 752

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3074386 10-May-2023 03:45

Lots of things here.

1/ what laptop are you plugging in? Is this a personal one, or a corporate laptop?

2/ how many ports are being consumed? I’m guessing it’s 2x hdmi for monitors, one Ethernet and a couple of usbA devices like mouse/keyboard?

3/ is the connection from the device to the laptop with the supplied Targus usb-c to usb-c/a cable, and are you connecting to the laptop using usb-c only?
4/ what is the power rating of the laptops psu? Is it 65w or less?

do you have another usb-c only cable that definitely supports Ethernet, 100w pd and hdmi?

________

Antoniosk

trig42

5901 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2114

ID Verified

#3074400 10-May-2023 07:54

If Targus say replace the cable, that is the first thing I'd be trying.

It does sound like either a cable or PSU issue. If that unit came with it's own PSU, then the cable is the next logical thing to try (although, I see on the link the OP supplied, it came with the cable? Surely if it won't work with the Targu supplied cable, Targus should be providing a working one?)

gehenna

8676 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3903

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3074402 10-May-2023 08:03

Does your laptop USB-C port support charging/passthru power? Not all do...or sometimes there is only one out of two or three that does...

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

johno1234

3484 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2976

#3074420 10-May-2023 09:00

According to the specs this unit is Thunderbolt3 compatible and does power passthrough 100W and they supply the USB-C cable so it should just work.

You are using the correct thunderbolt port from the dock (the rear one) to the laptop and the laptop is thunderbolt compatible, right? Lightning bolt icon on the laptop port?

I need to get a thunderbolt dock for my home NUC so I can add extra displays and they are notorious for these sorts of power issues.

richms

29251 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10361

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3074436 10-May-2023 10:14

The ones I have tested that needed the displaylink driver had been terrible.

The only working solution to video out was to use a proper USB-C to displayport adapter in a second port - that came right up and didn't have the low performance and bad lag of a USB display adapter.

Richard rich.ms

MikeAqua

8203 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3957

#3074444 10-May-2023 10:43

I have had various issues with USB-C docking and they have all come down to: -

Is the PSU adequate (sounds like a yes)
Is the 'right' sort of USB-C PD cable being used. Not all USB-C cables are PD capable. Not all USB-C PD cables are HDMI or Display Port capable.

Once I've sorted those things, it has just worked (as it should). I'm a big fan of USB-C, as it makes my life so easy. The only non-USB-C devices I have left are my powerbank, headset and running earphones.

Mike

Bung

6768 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2951

Subscriber

#3074458 10-May-2023 11:17

solaybro:
The website says the PSU is 150W so it should be fine. I have also tried plugging it in while having the regular laptop charger plugged in and it doesn't work.

To be 100% the PSU will have it's output on a label. It looks like the type that has an input cable that can be changed to give the required mains plug so it is less likely to have been substituted for a locally sourced one with a different output but worth checking.

solaybro

633 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 228

Trusted

#3074509 10-May-2023 11:33

antoniosk:

Lots of things here.

1/ what laptop are you plugging in? Is this a personal one, or a corporate laptop?

2/ how many ports are being consumed? I’m guessing it’s 2x hdmi for monitors, one Ethernet and a couple of usbA devices like mouse/keyboard?

3/ is the connection from the device to the laptop with the supplied Targus usb-c to usb-c/a cable, and are you connecting to the laptop using usb-c only?
4/ what is the power rating of the laptops psu? Is it 65w or less?

do you have another usb-c only cable that definitely supports Ethernet, 100w pd and hdmi?

I am trying it on my personal and work laptop. The connection issue is the same on both.
On the dock I have 2 monitors (1x HDMI and 1x DP), keyboard, mouse, and headset.
I am using the supplied cable. It only connects via USB-C.
PSU of my personal laptop is 90w.

I don't have another cable to try. They are kind of expensive so I don't really want to buy another. Plus it's not cutting out or anything while in use. If I get it working it works fine for hours on end even with moving the dock and cable around.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

solaybro

633 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 228

Trusted

#3074510 10-May-2023 11:36

gehenna:

Does your laptop USB-C port support charging/passthru power? Not all do...or sometimes there is only one out of two or three that does...

My laptop charges through both of it's USB-C ports.

solaybro

633 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 228

Trusted

#3074511 10-May-2023 11:39

johno1234:

According to the specs this unit is Thunderbolt3 compatible and does power passthrough 100W and they supply the USB-C cable so it should just work.

You are using the correct thunderbolt port from the dock (the rear one) to the laptop and the laptop is thunderbolt compatible, right? Lightning bolt icon on the laptop port?

I need to get a thunderbolt dock for my home NUC so I can add extra displays and they are notorious for these sorts of power issues.

I am using all the correct ports. I know I am because sometimes the dock decides to work.

solaybro

633 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 228

Trusted

#3074517 10-May-2023 11:47

Bung:
solaybro:

The website says the PSU is 150W so it should be fine. I have also tried plugging it in while having the regular laptop charger plugged in and it doesn't work.

To be 100% the PSU will have it's output on a label. It looks like the type that has an input cable that can be changed to give the required mains plug so it is less likely to have been substituted for a locally sourced one with a different output but worth checking.

It says 150w on it.

johno1234

3484 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2976

#3074881 11-May-2023 08:10

FWIW I just picked up a Dell TB3 dock WD19TBS from PBT to add some monitors on my office NUC. I did have to run the Intel Thunderbird application to connect the dock and then everything just worked. I am not powering the NUC from the dock and haven’t even tried. As far as I know NUCs don’t support power pass through on the TB port.