this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2024
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USB Switch for docking station to switch between PC and Desktop (lemmy.nz)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by sylverstream@lemmy.nz to c/newzealand@lemmy.nz
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I've got a laptop and a PC. I've connected my monitors, keyboard, camera, etc to this docking station

This works like a charm from both my laptop as well as my PC. However, switching between the two is annoying as it involves unplugging & plugging in.

Is there a USB switch I can connect the docking station to, and then a cable each to my PC and Desktop? The docking station has host charging, so it charges my laptop, so I guess the USB switch needs to be powered, or not?

I saw this one which has good reviews.

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[–] RegalPotoo@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I have the ugreen USB switch - does what it says on the box, not had any issues with it. I've not tested if it can actually get the fast USB throughput that it advertises, I only use it with keyboard/mouse.

  • I'm fairly sure it won't let you switch which computer "sees" your dock. I use mine by connecting both my dock and my PC to my monitors (2x DP inputs, so I can manually switch what signal I see), then connecting the USB switch to both the dock and my PC, then keyboard and mouse to USB switch. As others have suggested, a KVM switch would be simpler, but getting one that supports 2x 4k@60Hz outputs is expensive
[–] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I’m fairly sure it won’t let you switch which computer “sees” your dock.

Just curious why you think it won't work? I've just asked PBTech as well, and they said it should work like I'm planning to.

I can use your setup as well, but that just means more cables to my monitors, plus changing inputs on my monitors is annoying. I'd like to have one button to press to switch between PC and notebook.

[–] RegalPotoo@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

For my dock at least, the connection between the dock and the laptop is a thunderbolt connection, not USB. If you are able to drive the dock off a USB 3 type A port on both your laptop and your pc then yeah, the switch might work, but you will probably be limiting the resolution and refresh rate that you can drive your monitors at