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New StarTech USB Type-C docking stations have Alt Mode switches for maximum throughput

New StarTech USB Type-C docking stations have Alt Mode switches for maximum throughput (Source: StarTech)
New StarTech USB Type-C docking stations have Alt Mode switches for maximum throughput (Source: StarTech)
The professional DK30C2HAGPD and DK30C2DAGPD docks are able to make the most of USB Type-C Gen. 1 by switching between two different modes depending on user application.

Docking stations based on USB Type-C are very common, but most do not support USB PD (Power Delivery) or multiple external monitor setups simultaneously. StarTech has addressed this directly with the recently released DK30C2HAGPD and DK30C2DAGPD USB Type-C docking stations.

Unlike other docking stations in the market, these two StarTech docks each carry a physical switch to change the modes of the ports provided. For example, users who need full USB 3.0 speeds can toggle the switch to USB 3.0 mode while users who need to connect 2x 4K UHD external monitors can toggle the switch to DisplayPort/HDMI mode. This approach overcomes the bandwidth limitation of USB Type-C Gen. 1 since the port would otherwise not be able to simultaneously support full USB 3.0 transfer rates and multiple external monitors at 4K30 each.

The only caveat is that the USB Type-C port on the laptop must support DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) for dual-monitor mode and it must support USB Power Delivery 2.0 or 3.0 if users want to charge the system through USB Type-C. Laptops that can already charge via USB Type-C or have USB Type-C Gen. 2 should have no issues supporting the full set of features available as these StarTech docks are designed for USB Type-C Gen. 1 ports. Newer Ultrabooks like the XPS 13, Spectre 13, MateBook X Pro, or Yoga C930 should have no issues on paper.

The DK30C2HAGPD and DK30C2DAGPD are now available for $170 and $156, respectively. Both are identical except for the choice of video-out (HDMI or DisplayPort).

DK30C2HAGPD (front)
DK30C2HAGPD (front)
DK30C2HAGPD (back)
DK30C2HAGPD (back)
DK30C2DAGPD (front)
DK30C2DAGPD (front)
DK30C2DAGPD (back)
DK30C2DAGPD (back)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2019 01 > New StarTech USB Type-C docking stations have Alt Mode switches for maximum throughput
Allen Ngo, 2019-01-23 (Update: 2019-01-23)