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Unlocking More Connectivity: Using a USB-C Dock with USBC-PDMON

Last Update: March 13th, 2025
Article ID: 3137390

The USBC-PDMON portable monitor includes multiple USB-C ports, one of which supports Power Delivery (PD) passthrough. Connecting a USB docking station to the USBC-PDMON’s USB hub ports can greatly expand the functionality of your setup by adding more USB ports, wired network access, and external display capabilities. This setup also simplifies cable management, as a single power adapter can power the dock, monitor, and laptop simultaneously. Additionally, DisplayLink technology allows for multiple extended displays, even on devices that do not natively support multi-display output over USB-C. However, there are some important things to keep in mind when setting up this configuration.
 

Key Considerations

  1. USB Graphics Technology Required – The docking station must use USB graphics technology such as DisplayLink or Silicon Motion for producing video on its outputs. Outputs that rely on Thunderbolt or USB-C Alt Mode will not work since the USB-C hub ports of USBC-PDMON do not output video.
  2. Power Delivery Considerations – If your dock supports USB-C power delivery, it's recommended to connect it to the USB-C port that supports PD passthrough. This allows the dock’s charging capability to pass through the USBC-PDMON to the host device. If the dock does not support power delivery, it can be plugged into either USB-C hub port on the USBC-PDMON.
     

DisplayLink-based docks are recommended for this setup. Some compatible docks include:

  • Plugable UD-6950PDH – A dual HDMI and DisplayPort dock using DisplayLink technology, with USB-C power delivery to charge the connected laptop, multiple USB ports, and Gigabit Ethernet.
  • Plugable UD-3900Z – A docking station featuring dual HDMI DisplayLink-based outputs, multiple USB-A ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. This dock does not provide power to charge the connected computer.


Setup Instructions

  1. Install Applicable Drivers –  Ensure the necessary docking station drivers are installed on your laptop to enable external displays.
  2. Power the Dock – Connect the dock’s power adapter (if applicable) to an AC outlet.
  3. Connect the Dock to USBC-PDMON – Plug the docking station into one of the USB-C hub ports on the USBC-PDMON. If the dock supports PD passthrough, use the PD Pass-through enabled USB-C port.
  4. Connect the USBC-PDMON to Your Laptop – Use the USB-C cable included with the USBC-PDMON to connect its host USB-C port to your laptop.
  5. Attach Peripherals – Connect your keyboard, mouse, and external drives to the USB ports on the dock.
  6. Attach Displays – Connect your additional monitors to the video output ports of your docking station.


Notes

  • If the docking station does not support power delivery passthrough, the laptop may not receive power and will require a separate power adapter.
  • Some docks may require a driver installation, such as DisplayLink docks for extended display functionality.
  • If you experience display issues with the dock, verify that the docking station works as expected with a direct connection to the host device.
  • The USB-C hub ports on the USBC-PDMON are not meant for video output and should be expected to drive additional displays directly.