this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2024
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I've got a laptop and a PC. I've connected my monitors, keyboard, camera, etc to this docking station

This works like a charm from both my laptop as well as my PC. However, switching between the two is annoying as it involves unplugging & plugging in.

Is there a USB switch I can connect the docking station to, and then a cable each to my PC and Desktop? The docking station has host charging, so it charges my laptop, so I guess the USB switch needs to be powered, or not?

I saw this one which has good reviews.

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[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 weeks ago (9 children)

Do you have monitors? How do you switch whether the PC or laptop are shown on the monitors?

[–] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 3 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

By changing the input on the USB switch. So usb from pc to switch. Usb from laptop to switch. Usb from switch to docking station. Hdmi, keyboard, mouse, camera from docking station. Pbtech has confirmed this will work.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

They might be right! Or they might have misunderstood the question. I'm having trouble visualising the setup, so I drew a picture.

If I understand the switch correctly, whatever you plug into the USB A ports on the front are always active on one device or the other. Then the devices you plug in to the two USB C ports on the back are the ones you switch between. Is that right?

So is your setup like this? You can use the PC+monitor with the keyboard and mouse, OR the laptop with the keyboard and mouse. But you can't use the monitor with the laptop and keyboard and mouse?

Edit: Here is how the KVM setup would work. Specific mouse and keyboard ports, specific device ports for plugging in the PC and laptop, then an output for the monitor(s) that will show whichever device is active on the switch.

I'm not sure how the docking station fits into things, it might not be necessary as the KVM would take it's place:

[–] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 3 points 2 weeks ago

As pictures are easier, I've quickly drawn my plan. my quick drawing

I emailed Targus as well and they said it would work. They did say the host charging will stop working, ie have to charge the laptop separately. That's fine.

The problem with a KVM I believe is that my laptop only has a single USB out, and thus not support for 2 monitors; this is what the docking station enables me to do. There are KVM's with docking station enabled, but couldn't find them.

All very complicated to be honest! I was surprised my docking station works out of the box with my desktop.

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