best dock etc for M1 MacBook Air

[wfriedwald]

hey! Everybody. thank you for your input!

So I went and bought two devices, these seem to be the ones that everybody is most recommending:

1. The Dell Universal Dock UD22

2. CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub - Universal Multi-Port Hub

my results / report thus far:

I have gotten the UD22 to do about 75-80% of what I want by itself:
* all my USB3 hard drives seem to be mounting fine.
* I have gotten one external USB monitor to work via HDMI

When I attach the CalDigit to the other Thunderbolt C port, I can't seem to get it to do anything. (Possibly the two are not meant to work together, or not compatible with each other?). I can return one of these if it turns out not to be right for what I want to do.

here's my remaining wish list:
* I would like to use one more external monitor - I do have two on hand, one of which has a displayPort. if I were to connect via displayPort, would I be able to get a third extended monitor, ie, more than just a mirror of one of the two existing ones?
* also to attach a USB2 keyboard, using the built in keyboard is kind of awkward for me.
* possible also an external USB2 microphone ...

anyhow, that's my very short list for now.

thanks as usual for all the great feedback!

w

 

[JPack]

Does the TB4 hub work by itself if it's the only thing connected to MacBook Air?

* I would like to use one more external monitor - I do have two on hand, one of which has a displayPort. if I were to connect via displayPort, would I be able to get a third extended monitor, ie, more than just a mirror of one of the two existing ones?
* also to attach a USB2 keyboard, using the built in keyboard is kind of awkward for me.
* possible also an external USB2 microphone ...

Yes, you can attach 3 separate displays in extended mode with UD22. You would need to use the USB-C to DisplayPort cable I linked above.

The reason for buying the CalDigit hub is to have your high speed external drives connected to it, while having low speed USB keyboard and microphones attached to UD22. So it's disappointing to hear the CalDigit hub isn't working. Perhaps it's a defective unit? If you don't mind connecting everything to the UD22, you can increase the number of USB-A ports by purchasing the hub below and connecting it to UD22 for more ports.

Sabrent 4-Port USB Hub, USB 3.0 Fast Data Hub with Individual LED Power Switches, 2 Ft Cable, Slim & Portable, for Mac & PC (HB-UM43)

Add up to 4 devices with the efficient, effectual SABRENT 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub. The thin, lightweight design makes the SABRENT 4-port USB 3.0 hub a great travel companion to expand your laptop’s USB 3.0 port into four. Fully backwards compatible with the USB 2.0/1.1 products. Additionally, each por...

www.amazon.com

 

[dandeco]

I currently use a CalDigit TS3-Plus dock and an older 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display with my M1 MacBook Air, especially when in clamshell/desktop mode. (Currently due to the keyboard having issues, until I can get it repaired at an Apple Store I can only really use it in clamshell mode anyways, like I am right now as I type this!) The TS3-Plus dock provides me with the connection to the Thunderbolt display (using a Thunderbolt 2-to-3 adapter, of course), USB-A (3) ports, Gigabit Ethernet, SD card slot (especially when importing footage I shot on my Canon Vixia HF-R600 camcorder) and even the audio-in jack for digitizing my rare vinyl records and compact cassettes. (My Numark turntable has a USB cable, but I can't control the volume over it the way I can with the analog audio.) I also use one of the USB 2.0 ports on my Thunderbolt display for charging my iPhone and iPad and my wireless Apple keyboard and mouse, and the FireWire 800 port for archiving my old MiniDV tapes and any analog video sources (using the analog-to-digital passthrough on my HDV and Digital8 camcorders).

 

[wfriedwald]

thank you!

Okay, I now am using the external keyboard, using the one USBC port on the front.

I still have to review options for getting (at least) one more external monitor display.

I do have a USBC-to-displayport cable. When I tried using it, it did connect the monitor, but the two external monitors were only mirror images of each other, not an extended image.

further question: does anybody know what the ports on the back of the DELL UD22 are for?
there seem to be two x USB3 (traditional full size) and one USBC thunderbolt.
I tried using them, and it seemed like it blanked out the whole unit, not sure what happened.

as always, grateful for any feedback,

W

PS: additional question - in some place I see references to the UD22 working with software and drives, but as far as I can tell, that's necessary only when using the UD22 with a PC / Windows machine? Thanks again!

 

[JPack]

thank you!

Okay, I now am using the external keyboard, using the one USBC port on the front.

I still have to review options for getting (at least) one more external monitor display.

I do have a USBC-to-displayport cable. When I tried using it, it did connect the monitor, but the two external monitors were only mirror images of each other, not an extended image.

further question: does anybody know what the ports on the back of the DELL UD22 are for?
there seem to be two x USB3 (traditional full size) and one USBC thunderbolt.
I tried using them, and it seemed like it blanked out the whole unit, not sure what happened.

as always, grateful for any feedback,

W

PS: additional question - in some place I see references to the UD22 working with software and drives, but as far as I can tell, that's necessary only when using the UD22 with a PC / Windows machine? Thanks again!

Please download and install the software for DisplayLink. It is needed for everything except the most basic functions for the dock.

DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

WindowsmacOSAndroidChrome OSUbuntu

www.synaptics.com

 

[wfriedwald]

oh thanks! I don't know why I couldn't find that download when I searched; only windows versions kept coming up. thank YOU!

PS: I am still not sure what to do with the ports on the back of the UD22 - any suggestions? (I know I'm leaving myself open for a wisecrack!)

 

[wfriedwald]

not exactly an update:

I installed the displayLink driver - I'm not sure what it's supposed to do?

I try to attach a 2nd external monitor (via DisplayLink-to-USBC adaptor cable)

* when I go through the front, the second monitor turns on, but again I can only get it to mirror the first external monitor.

* when I plug it in the back, nothing happens. Neither of the external monitors work. (But, at least, the external USB3 hard drives, which are connected via the front, are still mounted and working.)

As always, grateful for feedback and suggestions,

W

 

[JPack]

Follow the instructions here regarding the DisplayLink software.

 

[JPack]

PS: I am still not sure what to do with the ports on the back of the UD22 - any suggestions? (I know I'm leaving myself open for a wisecrack!)

The ports marked in red are where your monitors should be plugged in. It can be any combination of the ports in red. The green USB ports are the same as the 2 USB ports at the front. They are additional ports for USB accessories.

 

[wfriedwald]

good news! I ordered a displayLink cable for the second external monitor, and, yes, it does what I hoped - now I do have three extended (not mirrored) displays. Yes! so I think I am happy!

thank you all for your most helpful suggestions!

w

 

[Xnotcool]

Glad to find this. At post six month, I use an orico dock which also base on displaylink but only support two extended 4k60 monitor.Btw, the third extend monitor of UD22 must use usbc2DP cable?(I remeber it support 4 extended monitor, seems only 3 for m1?)... I'm hesitating to buy UD22 or CD100 now (it's displaylink support 3 extended monitor originally).

 

[JPack]

Glad to find this. At post six month, I use a orico dock which also base on displaylink but only support two extended 4k60 monitor.Btw, the third extend monitor must use usbc2DP port?(I remeber it support 4 extended monitor, seems only 3 for m1)... I'm hesitating to buy UD22 or CD100 now (it's displaylink support 3 extended monitor originally).View attachment 2243248

That Hagibis dock only supports 3 external monitors. The USB-C port doesn't seem to support video.

It's best to buy Dell as they provide firmware updates. These docks are mini computers and need updates once in a while. Other manufacturers may not have any after sales support.

 

[Xnotcool]

That Hagibis dock only supports 3 external monitors. The USB-C port doesn't seem to support video.

It's best to buy Dell as they provide firmware updates. These docks are mini computers and need updates once in a while. Other manufacturers may not have any after sales support.

Thanks for the reply.
I just a little bit curious why you suggest to use usbc2dp cable when connect the third extended monitor, means only two of them(1*hdmi+2*DP) workable on m1 or just a pursuit of full DP connect with monitor.If UD22 support 4 monitor originally, I also think I will most likely choose UD22.
Still....UD22's adapter looks too "reliable" (though it doesn't move very often).

 

[JPack]

Thanks for the reply.
I just a little bit curious why you suggest to use usbc2dp cable when connect the third extended monitor, means only two of them(1*hdmi+2*DP) workable on m1 or just a pursuit of full DP connect with monitor.If UD22 support 4 monitor originally, I also think I will most likely choose UD22.
Still....UD22's adapter looks too "reliable" (though it doesn't move very often).

DisplayPort is the preferred connection due to the theoretical higher bandwidth. Also, if the ports are the same, there is less likelihood of display color difference.