Targus Universal Docking Station Training (Part 5 of 5)

In previous sessions, we covered Targus’ truly universal docking stations that utilize USB for both data and video and have truly universal power. In this session, we'll talk about alternate mode docking stations with universal power. “Alternate Mode” means alternate to the USB type C specifications, and it cannot be converted to Type-A host connections.

There are many alternate modes, but the two most prevalent are Thunderbolt 3 and Display Port Alternate Modes. Thunderbolt 3 is referred to as just “Thunderbolt” and DisplayPort Alternate mode is often referred to as just “USB-C”. And this can be confusing because many alternate modes utilize the Type-C connector, some are compatible, and implementations vary widely. Most of the confusion stems from the options to each of the USB Alternate Mode Specifications and the compatibility between them.

Targus USB-C and Thunderbolt docking stations were designed to be ultra-compatible, multi-function alternate mode docking stations when connected to a USB-C or Thunderbolt host. For instance, the Targus DOCK430 USB-C Multifunction DisplayPort Alternate Mode Triple Video Docking Station with 85W Power Delivery, a mouthful I know, works with Windows PC, MacBooks, IPad OS, IPad Pro's, Linux PC, Chromebooks, Android devices including the DeX overlay, and even many popular thin-client operating systems with USB-C port support.

Through a single, Thunderbolt compatible, USB-Type C connection to the host, the DOCK430 provides up to three external monitors, two with DisplayPort and one with HDMI. It also has four Type-A USB 3.2 Gen1 5Gbit per second ports, one on the side is high power charging, two on the front accessible for your peripherals. It also has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 gigabit per second USB Type-C port, and of course an audio port and a wire speed gigabit Ethernet port.

Through that single USB Type-C connection to the host, the DOCK430 also provides up to 85W of power at all the popular voltages, including 5, 9, 12, 15 and 20 VDC. The DOCK430 is VESA mount compatible. This means you can mount the DOCK430 on the back of your monitor to hide it away where only a cord shows up on your desktop. Other alternate mode docks in our lineup include the portable USB-C travel docks, models DOCK411 and DOCK412.

The DOCK411 includes a USB Type-C Display Port Alternate Mode compatible Thunderbolt 3 host connection pigtail. It has a VGA port that supports up to twenty 2048x1152 60Hz or you can use the HDMI port all the way up to 4K. It has one USB 3.1 Gen 1 5Gbps USB 3.0 Type-A port, a gigabit Ethernet port and of course the HDMI port includes 5.1 channel audio.

The dock DOCK412 has all the same features as the DOCK411, but in addition has a mini-DP port for DisplayPort monitors. And its biggest feature is it supports power delivery pass through on its power delivery Type-C port all the way to 60W.

Whether your customer needs an alternate mode docking station or universal docking station, Target has a docking station to meet their needs, and maximize their productivity in just about any workload. All of our Targus docking stations come with the industry leading three-year warranty and global applications engineering support.

In this session, we touched upon the differences between universal docking stations and alternate mode docking stations, at Targus both with truly universal power. We went over the DOCK430 and Targus’ travel docks, the DOCK411 and DOCK412.