Has anyone used the CalDigit TS4 to connect 2 monitors with DisplayLink to get around Apple's contrived money grab limit of only one external monitor? I read that CalDigit doesn't recommend it but I can't find anywhere that it will not work. It is the dock I would like to use.
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Macbook Air dual monitors with CalDigit TS4
- Thread starter DonaldE
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The dock doesn't have built-in displaylink. So it won't work out of the box.
You can however connect a displaylink-adapter (example of one of the more advanced ones here) *to* a dock such as the TS4 and then attach a second monitor through it.
I see some rumours here and there saying you need to connect such an adapter directly to the laptop and can't have it connected through a dock, but that's simply not true.
You can however connect a displaylink-adapter (example of one of the more advanced ones here) *to* a dock such as the TS4 and then attach a second monitor through it.
I see some rumours here and there saying you need to connect such an adapter directly to the laptop and can't have it connected through a dock, but that's simply not true.
I am considering the Anker Apex 12-in-1 or the Anker 577 Thunderbolt Docking Station (13-in-1, Thunderbolt 3)
This would be an Macbook Air M2 (not M1). and now I'm instead looking at the Anker 777.
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If something isn't compatible with the M1 you can expect it to have the same issues with the M2. The product page is likely just dated.
However pretty odd to develop a TB4-dock that isn't compatible with modern Macbooks. And the product page mentions a non-existent MacOS 10.16 as well. I'm beginning to think Anker isn't much of a serious company.
You may be correct. I've searching through many descriptions of hubs to work with the Macbook Air M2, and none make it very clear on what they can and cannot do when it comes to monitors. I want one that will work with Displaylink (to overcome Apple's single external monitor) and ideally have 2 HDMI ports but can work around that.
Honestly I think the go-to is either the dell-dock suggested since it has DisplayLink built in but yeah you will need to adapt DP to HDMI if needed.
Else, I'd suggest any dock that suits your needs and add either this adapter (HDMI) to the dock for a maximum of 1440p at 60Hz or buy the more advanced adapter (HDMI) if you need 4K at 60Hz. Regarding the 2nd adapter having two ports, I would only use -one- port of such a device and drive the "main monitor" without displaylink, due to the CPU overhead cost associated with each screen running through DisplayLink.
If your monitors are more advanced than that I'd say M2 MBA isn't a good choice to begin with!
M1 and M2 is the same. Not all Thunderbolt docks are tested with Mac. Thunderbolt docks don't even work with all Thunderbolt notebooks. Compatibility is always an issue.
If you want to use two monitors, get UD22. Not sure why you're picking a TB dock.
Docks of any kind introduce instability to the system. If you plan on getting a USB DisplayPort adapter and attaching to the dock, you're introducing a higher chance of problems.