Product ID: USB3DDOCKFT
This TAA compliant KVM USB 3.0 docking station for two laptops functions like a KVM switch, enabling you to share your keyboard, video, and mouse, and transfer files between your docked laptops.
Connect two laptops to this dock to share dual monitors, a keyboard, mouse, and peripherals. This KVM docking station lets you control two laptops and share two monitors and several peripherals between them while they’re docked. The docking station features:
Instead of transferring files to the cloud or external storage, the docking station lets you quickly and securely transfer data between your docked laptops, using Windows Easy Transfer or the included PCLinq software.
The USB 3.0 dock’s always-on USB fast-charge port lets you charge your tablets and other mobile devices, even if your laptops aren’t docked.
This USB docking station gives you the option to connect a single 4K display instead of dual displays. Set your laptop workstation up with dual monitors (1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI), or for higher resolutions, connect either a single HDMI or 4K DisplayPort monitor.
Maximum Supported Resolutions*
Video Output Configuration | Max DisplayPort Resolution | Max HDMI Resolution |
---|---|---|
DisplayPort and HDMI (Two Displays) |
2048 x 1152p | 2048 x 1152p |
DisplayPort (Single Display) |
3840 x 2160p (4K) | N/A |
HDMI (Single Display) |
N/A | 2560 x 1440p |
*Lower resolutions are also supported. For example, if the max is 3840 x 2160p (4K), it also supports 2560 x 1600p and 2560 x 1440p.
Compatible with Mac and Windows® USB 3.0 equipped laptops, the KVM docking station includes two USB 3.0 cables for quick installation and features an easy-access button for easy switching between laptops.
StarTech.com laptop docking stations offer cost savings and faster deployment with just a single cable. This USB 3.0 Docking Station is backed by a competitive 3-year warranty and free lifetime Technical Support.
Warranty Information | Warranty | 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Connector(s) | 1 - Connector Type(s) | DisplayPort (20 pin) |
HDMI (19 pin) | ||
USB 3.0 A (Fast-Charge, 9 pin) | ||
4 - Connector Type(s) | USB Type-A (9 pin) USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) | |
1 - Connector Type(s) | RJ-45 | |
3.5 mm Mini-Jack (4 Position) | ||
2 - Connector Type(s) | USB Type-B (9 pin) USB 3.0 | |
1 - Connector Type(s) | Security Lock Slot | |
Environmental | Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
Storage Temperature | -10°C to 80°C (14°F to 176°F) | |
Humidity | 0~90% RH | |
Hardware | 4K Support | Yes |
Fast-Charge Port(s) | Yes | |
Displays Supported | 2 | |
Bus Type | USB 3.0 | |
Industry Standards | USB Battery Charging Specification Rev. 1.2 IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab USB 3.0 - Backward compatible with USB 2.0/1.1 |
|
Chipset ID | DisplayLink - DL-5900 VIA/VLI - VL812 |
|
Indicators | 1 - LED Indicators | Link (Green) |
Activity (Amber) | ||
Packaging Information | Package Height | 70 mm [2.8 in] |
Package Length | 29.6 cm [11.7 in] | |
Shipping (Package) Weight | 1.1 kg [2.5 lb] | |
Package Width | 16.2 cm [6.4 in] | |
Performance | Maximum Data Transfer Rate | 5 Gbps (USB 3.0) 2 Gbps (Ethernet; Full-Duplex) |
Maximum Digital Resolutions | 3840 x 2160 @ 30Hz (DisplayPort - Single Display) 2560 x 1440 (HDMI - Single Display) 2048 x 1152 and 2048 x 1152 (DisplayPort and HDMI - Two Displays) Lower resolutions are also supported. For example, if the max is 3840 x 2160p (4K), it also supports 2560 x 1600p and 2560 x 1440p. |
|
Type and Rate | USB 3.0 - 5 Gbit/s | |
UASP Support | Yes | |
Compatible Networks | 10/100/1000 Mbps | |
Auto MDIX | Yes | |
Full Duplex Support | Yes | |
Physical Characteristics | Weight of Product | 374 g [13.2 oz] |
Color | Black & Silver | |
Material | Plastic | |
Product Length | 27 cm [10.6 in] | |
Product Width | 82 mm [3.2 in] | |
Product Height | 34 mm [1.3 in] | |
Power | Power Source | AC Adapter Included |
Input Voltage | 100 - 240 AC | |
Input Current | 1.5 A | |
Output Voltage | 5 DC | |
Output Current | 6.5 A | |
Center Tip Polarity | Positive | |
Plug Type | N | |
Power Consumption (In Watts) | 32.5 | |
Software | OS Compatibility | Windows® 7, 8, 8.1, 10 macOS 10.8 - 10.12, 10.14 - 10.15 Chrome OS™ v55+ |
Special Notes / Requirements | System and Cable Requirements | Two USB-enabled computers with an available USB 3.0 port on each computer (host) |
Note | A 4K-capable DisplayPort display is required to achieve 4Kx2K resolutions | |
If connected to a USB 2.0 host port, or if using a USB 2.0 host connection cable, performance may be limited (USB 3.0 host cables included) | ||
USB 3.0 is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1; this connectivity standard offers speeds up to 5Gbps | ||
PCLinq can be used in any operating system that the dock supports. Windows Easy Transfer can only be used in Windows 8.1, 8, and 7 | ||
What's in the Box | 1 - Included in Package | laptop docking station |
2 - Included in Package | 3.3 ft [1 m] USB 3.0 host cables | |
1 - Included in Package | universal power adapter (NA/JP, EU, UK, ANZ) | |
instruction manual |
Connect an HDMI monitor to a DisplayPort video source
Connect DVI capable devices to HDMI®-enabled devices and vice versa
Turns a 3.5mm audio output port into two distinct ports – one 3.5mm headphone jack and one 3.5mm microphone port
Create high-resolution 4K x 2K connections with HBR2 support between your DisplayPort equipped devices
Create high-resolution 4K x 2K connections with HBR2 support between your DisplayPort equipped devices
Turn 4 SATA hard drives into external RAID storage, connected through USB 3.0 or eSATA
One high performance storage solution to support two SSD or HDD drives
Connect your USB Type-C laptop to a USB legacy peripheral device, with this durable adapter
Protect your laptop against theft with this convenient combination lock
Connect a DVI monitor to a single-mode DisplayPort output from your computer
We are always ready to assist you with any questions you may have.
Live Chat (opens in new window)We are always ready to assist you with any questions you may have.
Live Chat (opens in new window)Active adapters are required if adapting DisplayPort to HDMI or DVI monitors. Active adapters use additional chips to make the conversion inside the adapter. Passive DisplayPort to HDMI or DVI will not work with this device.
Starting in High Sierra 10.13, macOS enforces stricter security policies than previous revisions. As a result of these changes, software packages, like those used in this installation, will need to be allowed within the macOS Security and Privacy settings, immediately after the software has been installed, in order for the device to operate.
To allow the software, follow these steps after you've completed installation on your Mac:
Note: The option to allow the software will be available within the Security & Privacy settings for 30 minutes. If the software is not allowed within that time frame, the software must be reinstalled in order for macOS to grant the opportunity to allow it again.
Note: Do not physically connect the laptop docking station to your computer until instructed to (Step 7).
Note: Mac OS X will typically save the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, hard_drive_name\Users\your_name\Downloads).
Note: Installation might take several seconds to complete. During the installation your display might flicker; this is normal. Once the installation has completed you will see your Macintosh desktop extended to any connected monitors.
To install the DisplayLink Manager app, please follow these steps:
If the displays still do not work, please review these points:
DisplayLink powered USB video adapters and docking stations are not compatible with any MacBook running macOS 10.13.4 - 10.13.6. If a system has updated to macOS 10.13.4, 10.13.5, or 10.13.6, upgrading to macOS 10.14 (Mojave) is an option for users to restore DisplayLink functionality.
At this time, the DisplayLink compatibility issue also affects any 2018 MacBook Pro laptops with an Intel Coffee Lake CPU running macOS 10.14. Please see the DisplayLink site for a driver download workaround. This workaround will force AirPlay to extend or mirror one USB display.
For alternative product recommendations including our catalog of Thunderbolt™ products, connect with our Technical Advisory team at the bottom of our Support page.
Computers running macOS Catalina (10.15) may experience compatibility issues with products that use DisplayLink technology, such as USB Docking Stations and Video Adapters. Connecting to a DisplayLink-powered Product may cause the Display(s) to output a blank screen. If you experience this problem, follow these steps:
If the display connected through your USB display adapter does not wake up after your computer has been in extended hibernation, it is likely that Windows has automatically turned off the USB Root hub to save power.
The steps below outline how to configure the USB root hub to stay on during hibernation, to prevent this from happening.
Windows 8 / 10
Note: You may need to disconnect and re-connect your USB display adapter after applying these settings to re-establish the connection.
Windows 7 / Vista
Note: You may need to disconnect and re-connect your USB display adapter after applying these settings to re-establish the connection.
Windows XP
Note: You may need to disconnect and re-connect your USB display adapter after applying these settings to re-establish the connection.
Sometimes an on-board network interface card (NIC) conflicts with a new NIC. In these cases it is best to disable the on-board NIC.
The best way to disable your on-board NIC is to go into your BIOS and disable it there if possible. To do this, consult your motherboard manual.
You can also disable any NIC in Windows. Here is how you do this:
First click Start, or, in Windows 10 and 8, hold down the Windows key and press X. Then click Control Panel.
Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
When you troubleshoot issues with a laptop docking station, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:
Video cables
Video source
Video destination
Laptop docking station
USB peripherals
Ethernet connection
To test your setup components, try the following:
Use the video cables, video source, video destination, laptop docking station, USB peripherals, and Ethernet connection in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.
Use a different video cable, video source, video destination, laptop docking station, USB peripherals, and Ethernet connection setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.
When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:
Test each cable individually.
Use short cables when you are testing.
When you test the video cables, video source, video destination, and laptop docking station it is recommended that you do the following:
Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter to open Device Manager.
If you do not see the USB video adapter in Device Manager, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=expansion-cards#usb-cannot-detect-windows.
If the device is listed with an error, reinstall the drivers following the instructions on the website.
Check to see if your video card drivers are current. You can check what video card you have in Device Manager under Display adapters. It is recommended that you go directly to the video card manufacturer's website to check for the latest drivers.
Check to see if the monitor is being detected by Windows.
For more information about testing the USB peripherals and the laptop docking station, visit www.startech.com/faq/usb_hubs_general_troubleshooting.
When you test Ethernet and the laptop docking station, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/network_adapters_general_troubleshooting.
When you test sound and the laptop docking station, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/sound_cards_general_troubleshooting.
If hardware acceleration is enabled on any of your software applications, it can result in poor resource management and limit the performance of your video device. If you experience this problem, you should disable hardware acceleration in the program(s) that were impacted.
To disable hardware acceleration in common applications and operating systems, complete one of the following series of steps, depending on what software application(s) or operating system that you are running.
Internet Explorer 9 and later
Note: Earlier versions of Internet Explorer do not use hardware acceleration.
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Microsoft Office 2013 / 2010
Windows 10 / 8
Windows 7 / Vista
Windows XP
To arrange extended displays on Windows 10, complete the following.
To arrange extended displays on macOS, complete the following.
To confirm that Windows detects your USB device, complete the following:
Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
To confirm that the Mac OS detects your USB device, complete the following:
You may need to refresh the System Information page after you plug in your device. To do so, press Command + R with the System Information page open.
Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
Whether this device works with the Chrome OS™ operating system or not depends on the version of the Chrome OS operating system that you’re running and the model of the Chromebook™ notebook computer that you’re using.
Existing DisplayLink® enabled USB 3.0 products natively support Chrome OS build version R55 and later, but not all Chromebook notebook computers running build version R55 and later natively support DisplayLink. Support for DisplayLink is being rolled out to Chromebook notebook computers in a series of releases. To see the build version of the Chrome OS operating system that supports DisplayLink and corresponds to the model of the Chromebook notebook that you’re using, view the following knowledge base article on the DisplayLink website: http://support.displaylink.com/knowledgebase/articles/891030.
No, you cannot use this docking station to charge a connected laptop computer.
To see a list of laptop docking stations that can charge a connected laptop, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/laptop-docking-stations-will-charge-laptop.
Check out our review guidelines.