Kensington SD4500 Installation guide

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FrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQ’s)onUSB‐CTechnologyand
TroubleshootingGuideforKensingtonSD4500andSD4600P
USB‐CDockingStations
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NotallUSB‐Cdevicesarecreatedequal.WhilethenewUSB‐Cportsarevery
convenient,eachmanufacturercansetupeachmodeltosupportdifferentlevelsof
data,videoandpower.Assuch,compatibilitywithproductivityaccessorieslikethe
KensingtonSD4500andSD4600Pdockscanvary.
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USB‐Cisanewtechnologyand,unfortunately,it’salsoacomplicatedtechnology.
Shoppersneedtomakeinformedchoicestoensuretheaccessorytheybuyis
compatiblewiththeirhostdevice,andcan’tassumethateveryaccessorywillwork
seamlessly.Whenthehostdevice’sUSB‐Ccapabilitiesarefullycompatiblewithour
dockingstationfeaturesandallsoftwareonyourhostdevicehavebeenupdated,
theperformanceshouldbenearlyflawless.
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IfyouhavequestionsaboutUSB‐C,pleasetakealookatthefollowingFrequently
AskedQuestions(FAQ’s).
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ThingstoKnowBeforeYouBuy/CommonIssues
YourlaptopordevicemusthaveaUSB‐Cport.(UsinganadapteronaUSB3.0
portwillnotwork.)
YourdevicemustberunningWindows10,8.1orMACOS(Sierra)orMacOSX
Yosemite(10.10)orlater,orChromeOS.
Forvideooutput,yourUSB‐ClaptoporhybridmustsupportDisplayPortAlt.
ModeoverUSB‐Corvideosignalscannotbesenttoyourmonitors.
Forvideooutput,youmustuseadirectHDMI‐to‐HDMIcableorDisplayPort‐
to‐DisplayPortcable.Connectingviaapassiveadapterwillnotallowvideo
signalstotransmit.
DualvideoisonlysupportedonWindows10and8.1devices(Macand
ChromeUSB‐Cdevicesdonotsupportdualvideo).
FortheSD4600Pdocktoprovidecharging,yourUSB‐Cdevicemustbe
designedtosupportPowerDelivery(PD).NotallUSB‐CdevicessupportPD.
MacOSdevicesneedtoperformaone‐timesoftwaredownloadtosupport
theEthernetport.

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Ensurethegraphicsdriver(typicallyfromIntelorAMD)onyourUSB‐Cdevice
isuptodate.Manyvideoproblems,suchasflickeringorfuzziness,canbe
fixedbyrunningasystemupdateonyourdevicetoupdatethedriver.
TheUSB‐CcablecanbepluggedintoaThunderbolt3portonyourdevice.
PleasenotethatwhiletheUSB‐CcableiscompatiblewiththeTB3port,itwill
notsupportfullTB3speeds.
ItisimportanttofollowtheInstructionGuidetoconnectyouraccessoriesin
theproperordertoensureoptimalbandwidthprioritizationspeed.
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Q:AreallUSB‐Cportsthesame?
A:No,theycanbeverydifferent.USB‐Ccontainsthreecomponents:
Datatransfer:dataspeedscanvaryfrom480Mbps(USB2.0)to10Gbps(USB
3.1Gen2)
PowerDelivery:laptopsmayormaynotsupportpowerdelivery.IfUSB‐C
powerdeliveryisnotsupported,atraditionallaptoppowertipisgoingtobe
neededtochargethedevice.
Videosupport:mayormaynotbeimplementedbythehostdevice
manufacturer(astheymaycontinuetouseDisplayPort,HDMI,orVGAports
forvideocapability)
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Q:WillallUSB‐CcablesandaccessoriesworkwithmyUSB‐Claptop?
A:TofindoutifyourlaptopiscompatiblewithyourUSB‐Caccessory,youwillneed
tounderstandthespecificationoftheUSB‐Cportonyourlaptop(Thisinformation
willbeavailableonyourlaptopmanufacturer’swebsiteorintheusermanualthat
camewithyourlaptop.)
NotallUSB‐Cportswillbesetuptodisplayvideo.
SomeaccessorieswillhaveUSB‐CportssetupforPowerDelivery,andthey
canrangebetween5W(Profile1)and100W(Profile5).Generally,most
laptopswillneedcloserto36W(Profile3)or60W(Profile4)forsufficient
charging.
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Q:WilltheUSB‐AportsonmylaptopworkwithUSB‐CaccessoriesifIuseaUSB‐A
toUSB‐Cadapter?
A:USB‐Asupportsdatatransmissiononly,whileUSB‐Cmaysupportvideo,power
delivery,anddata.AUSB‐CtoUSB‐Aadapterwillsupportdatatransfer,butthe
videoandpowerdeliveryfeaturesofUSB‐Cwillnotwork.
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Q:HowdoesmyUSB‐CcableknowwhatdeviceIhaveandwhatfunctionsthe
USB‐Cportonmydevicecanperform?
A:ThelaptoportabletandtheUSB‐Caccessorydoa“handshake”whenfirst
connectedtoeachother.The“handshake”isaquickexchangeofinformationon
whatissupportedbetweenthehostdeviceandtheaccessory.
1. ThesoftwareandhardwareembeddedintheUSB‐Claptopdeterminewhat
typesoffunctionsareallowedviaitsUSB‐Cport,andthecapabilitiesofthe
laptopwillbecommunicatedtotheaccessoryduringthe“handshake”.
2. Onlythefunctionsthatareallowedbyboththecomputerandtheaccessory
viatheUSB‐Cconnectionwillwork.
Q:AretheKensingtonUSB‐CproductsallPlug&Play?
A:Yes,allourUSB‐Cdevicescanbeinstalledwithouttheneedforsoftware
downloadsordrivers(exceptMacdevices,seebelow)whenconnectingtoahost
deviceusingWindows10andChromeOS(R53orabove),giventhatthelaptop
manufacturerhasallthesupportingfeaturesbuilt‐intotheUSB‐Cport(s):
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Pleasenote:
ForWindows10andChromeOS(R53orabove),thedockingstationsarePlug&
Play.ThePCmaystartinstallingadriverfortheperipheralsattachedthroughthe
dock(keyboard,mouse,etc.)duringsetup,butnodriverisrequiredforthedock
itself.
ForMacOS,dockingstationuserswillneedtoinstalladriverfortheEthernet
port.Theone‐timedriverinstallationcanbedownloadedat
software.kensington.com.
Forallsystems,toensurethebestvideoperformanceyourhostdevicemayneedto
haveitsgraphicscardupdatedwithadriverdownloadbyrunningasystemupdate.

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Q:CanIusetheUSB‐CdocksandadapterswithmyThunderbolt3laptop?
A:Yes,allourUSB‐Cdocksandadaptersarecompatiblewithlaptopsfeaturinga
Thunderbolt3port.
Pleasenote:TheUSB‐CdocksandadapterswillnotdeliverThunderbolt3data
transferspeeds(40Gbps),onlywhatthedockingstationoradaptersupports
(5Gbps).Also,notallThunderbolt3portssupportUSB‐Cpowerdelivery.

Q:WhatisAltmodeoverUSB‐C?
A:AltModeoverUSB‐CallowsdevicestodelivervideosignalsandUSBdataovera
singleUSB‐Ccable.ThereismorethanonevariationofAltmode.Themostpopular
versionisDisplayPort(DP),whichistheversionKensingtondockssupport.
Toensurethatyourlaptoportabletwillworkwithourdock,pleasecheckwiththe
laptop/tabletmanufacturertoensurethatyourdevicesupportsDisplayPortAlt
ModeoverUSB‐C.Youshouldbeabletofindthisinformationviayourdevice
manufacturer’swebsite,inthedevice’susermanualtechnicalspecifications,orby
contactingthemanufacturerdirectly.
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Q:MyUSB‐Claptop/tablethasaUSB‐Cportbutitdoesn’tsupportDisplayPortAlt
ModeoverUSB‐C.WilltheSD4500orSD4600Pdockworkwithmydevice?
A:Youwillnotbeabletousethevideoports(DPand/orHDMI).Allotherfeaturesof
thedockwillbefunctional.
Pleasenote:Inadditiontovideo/graphicsupport,pleaserememberthatUSB‐C
PowerDelivery(PD)supportwillalsodependonthespecificationsofUSB‐Cporton
yourdevice.
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Q:DoallKensingtonUSB‐CdockssupportPowerDelivery(PD)?
A:No,theSD4500andtheSD1500onlysupportvideo,audio,data,and
Ethernet.Thelaptop/tabletwillneedtobepoweredseparatelywhileconnectedto
thedock.IfyourequireUSB‐CPowerDelivery,pleaserefertofurtherinformation
onSD4600P.

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Q:WhatisthePowerDelivery(PD)capabilityofSD4600P?
A:TheSD4600Psupportsupto60watts(Profile4)ofcharging.Powerrequirements
differbasedonthemanufacturerandmodeloftheUSB‐Cdevice.Checkwithyour
manufacturertofindyourhostdevice’spowerneeds.
Pleasenote:Insomeinstances,whentheotherUSBportsonthedockare
connected,thePDtoyourlaptop/tabletmaybereducedto36W.Thiswillstillbe
sufficient,inmostcases,tokeepthePCrunningwithoutdrainingthechargeonthe
battery.
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Q:HowmanymonitorscantheSD4500andSD4600Pdockssupport,andwhatis
themaximumresolution?
A:UptotwomonitorsonWindowsdevices.TheWindowslaptop/tabletmust
supportDisplayPortv1.2(DP)orabovewithcompatibleandupdatedgraphic
cards.Toensurethatyourvideowillbeoptimal,pleaseensurethatyourgraphics
carddriver,typicallyfromIntelorAMD,isuptodate.Ifyouarehavingvideoissues,
ittypicallycanberesolvedbydownloadingthelatestgraphicsdriverupdatefrom
yourdevicemanufacturer.Pleasereviewthemanufacturers’manual/websiteor
contactthemanufacturerifyouareunsureoftheversionofDP.Whenrunningdual
screens,theresolutionsupportedforeachofthemonitorsis4096x2160@30Hz(4K
resolution).Forsingledisplay,thedockssupport4096x2160@60Hz(4Kresolution).
ForMacandChromesystems,theydonotsupportdualmonitorsinextendmode.
ThesePCsonlysupportoneextendedmonitor,butasecondmonitorcanbeusedto
mirroryourlaptopscreen.
Pleasenote:Whenconnectingthevideocables,itmustbeadirectHDMI‐to‐HDMI
connectionorDisplayPort‐to‐DisplayPortconnection.Usingapassiveadapterto
connecttoaDVIorVGAportwillnotallowthevideosignalstopassthrough
properlyandnovideowillbeshownonyourmonitor.
Alsoofnote:Whendisplayingona4Kmonitor,youmayexperienceadecreasein
dataandEthernetperformanceduetobandwidthprioritizationlimits.


A DIVISION OF ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Q:CanIconnecttoanadditionalscreenviatheadditionalUSB‐Cportontheback
oftheSD4500ortheSD4600Pdock?
A:No,youcannotconnecttoanadditionalscreen.Thisisbecausethatparticular
USB‐Cportdoesnotsupportvideo.Itdoessupporta15W(5V/3A)power
specificationforUSB‐CPowerDelivery,soitiscapableofdatatransferandcharging
adevice,suchasasmartphoneortabletwithaUSB‐Cport.

Q:CanIusetheUSB‐Aportonthefrontofthedock(SD4500ortheSD4600P)to
chargemysmartphoneortablet?
A:Yes,thefrontUSB‐Aportsupportsstandardbatterychargingcapabilitiesofupto
2.1Aandiscapableofchargingasmartphoneortablet.Toachievefastercharging,
youshouldpluginyourmobiledevicebeforepluggingthedockintothePC.

Q:WhatisthemaximumdataspeedoftheUSB3.0portsonyourUSB‐Cdocking
stations?
A:AlltheUSB3.0portsontheKensingtonUSB‐Cdockssupport5Gbpsdataspeed.

Q:CanIuseanotherUSB‐Ccable(notfromtheoriginalbox)onthisdock?
A:No,wecanonlyguaranteetheperformanceofthe18‐inchUSB‐Ccablethatships
withthedock.USB‐Ccablesvarygreatlybetweendifferentmanufacturers.We
recommendthatuserscontactKensingtonTechSupportforreplacementUSB‐C
cablesifneededat1‐800‐535‐4242.

Q:CanIuseadapterstoconnecttotheprimaryUSB‐CportontheSD4500or
SD4600PorconnecttheHDMI/DPvideocablestoVGA/DVIports?

A:No,youcannotuseaUSB‐CadaptertoconnectthedockingstationtoaUSB3.0
hostdevice,itcanonlybeconnecteddirectlyviaanativeUSB‐Cport.Forvideo,to
connecttheHDMIorDPcablestoDVIorVGAports,youwillhavetouseactive
adapters,whichcanbeexpensive.Passiveadapterswillnotallowthevideosignals
topassfromthehostdevicethroughthedockingstationandontothemonitor.

A DIVISION OF ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION

Q:WhatisthedifferencebetweenUSB3.0andUSB3.1?
USB3.0:
Max5Gbpsdataspeed
Nopowerdelivery
UsuallyUSB‐Aconnector

USB3.1Gen1:
Max5Gbpsspeed
Mayormaynothavepowerdelivery
CanbeeitherUSB‐AorUSB‐Cconnector

USB3.1Gen2:
Max10Gbpsspeed
Powerdeliveryofupto100W
USB‐Cconnectoronly


TroubleshootingGuide

Problem:
Thedockisnotchargingmylaptoportablet.

PossibleSolutions:
USB‐Cpowerdelivery(PD)issupportedonSD4600Pforupto60W(Profile4).
Evenifyourlaptopsupportsahigherwattage,thedockwillstillprovidea
chargetoyourdevice’sbattery.
EnsurethatyourdevicesupportsPowerDelivery(PD)overUSB‐C.Notall
USB‐CportsonlaptopsaredesignedtosupportPD.Ifyourlaptopdoesnot
supportPD,thelaptopcannottakeadvantageofthechargingcapabilitiesof
theSD4600Pdock.Pleasecheckyourlaptop’susermanualorcontactthe
manufacturertoconfirmyourdeviceiscompatiblewithPD.

A DIVISION OF ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Problem:
TheSD4600PdockisnotchargingmyDellXPS13laptop.

PossibleSolution:
Ifyouareseeingthewarningmessage“Thereisn’tenoughpower”or“Power
deliveryof30Wisnotenoughtochargethelaptop”,powerfromthedockhasbeen
prioritizedtotheUSBports.Pleasefollowthesestepstofixtheissue:

1. Unplugthepowerfromthedock
2. UnplugalltheUSB,Ethernet,Video&Audiocables
3. Re‐plugpowertothedock
4. Connectthedocktothelaptop
5. ConnecttheUSB,Ethernet,Video&Audiocables

Thisshouldsolvetheissueandisaone‐timefixthatwillnotneedtoberepeated.

Problem:
Iamtryingtosetupdualmonitorsonmydesktop.However,onlyoneofthetwo
monitorsisworking.Theotheroneisnotshowinganything.

PossibleSolutions:
EnsurethatyouhavethelatestgraphicsdriverfromyourPC’smanufacturer.
Checkyourgraphicscardsetting(usuallyIntelorAMD),andensurethatthe
connectedmonitorsaredetectedcorrectly,andaresetas“Extended
Desktop”.
Checkyouroperatingsystem’sdisplaysettingandensurethatyourdesired
settingisselectedcorrectly.
Problem:
Thereisnovideoonthemonitorsthatareconnectedtothedock.

PossibleSolutions:
Foravideosignal,pleasecheckifyourlaptoportabletsupportsDisplayPort
AltmodeoverUSB‐C.Ifyourdevicedoesn’tsupportDisplayPortAltmode
overUSB‐C,thisdockcan’toutputvideosignals.

A DIVISION OF ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
TheDisplayPortvideooutputonthedockwillonlysupportaconnectiontoa
DisplayPortmonitor.Anactiveadaptermayberequiredifyouwouldwantto
converttoanHDMI,DVI,orVGAconnection.
TheHDMIvideooutputonthedockwillonlysupportaconnectiontoan
HDMImonitor,ortoaDVIconnectionwithapassiveadapter.
Checkyourdisplayssettingsandthatyouaresetupin“ExtendMode”
(Fn+F8),thendraganopenwindowonyourlaptopoffthesideofthelaptop
screentoseeifitshowsuponthemonitor.

Problem:
Mylaptop/tabletsupportsDisplayPortAltmodeoverUSB‐C,butIstillcannotget
video.
PossibleSolutions:
Theremaybesomevideocompatibilityissues,aswearestillataveryearlystagein
thedevelopmentofDisplayPortAltmodeoverUSB‐C.Weprovideafirmware
upgradetoolforourSD1500USB‐CMobileDock,CV4000HUSB‐CtoHDMIVideo
Adapter,andCV2000VUSB‐CtoVGAVideoAdaptertohelptroubleshootvideo
compatibilityissuesforWindows.
Pleasevisitsoftware.kensington.comtoseeifanewfirmwareupgradeisavailable
andfollowtheonlineinstructionstodownloadthefirmware.

Problem:
Ihavea4Kmonitorthatsupports4Kat60HZ,butitdoesnotworkwiththeSD4500
ortheSD4600P.Isthereaworkaround?

PossibleSolutions:
ThismayhappenbecausethedockingstationisprioritizingbandwidthtoUSB
devicesonthedock.Toresolvethis,wesuggestunpluggingalltheconnected
peripherals,thenconnectinthefollowingorder:
1. Powercabletothedock
2. USB‐Ccablebetweenlaptopanddock

A DIVISION OF ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
3. Videocables
4. Alltheotherperipherals(Ethernet,keyboard,mouse,etc.).
Thisshouldhelpthedocktore‐prioritizebandwidthtovideoports.Thebandwidth
oftheUSBdownstreamports(connectingtoyourperipherals)willthenbe
downgradedtoUSB2.0andtheEthernetwillsupportupto100Mbps.

Problem:
My2.4GHzwirelessmouse/keyboard/presenterisslowornotworkingproperly.
PossibleSolution:
Insomecases,becausebothyourmouseandkeyboardoperateonthesame
wirelessfrequency,keyboardsandmicemaynotperformoptimallywhen
connectedtothesamecomputer.Ifthishappens,trypluggingthewirelessreceiver
foryourmouseorkeyboardintoaUSB2.0portifoneisavailable.Ifthereareno
USB2.0portsavailable,youwillcontinuetoexperiencesub‐optimalperformanceas
thisisalimitationofUSB3.0/3.1technology.

Problem:
ThedatatransferspeedisverysloworhasbeendowngradedtoUSB2.0speeds.

PossibleSolution:
USBportscanbedowngradedtoUSB2.0speedsiftheUSB‐Ccablewasconnected
beforethevideocables/USBaccessorieswereconnected.TheUSB‐Ccablemustbe
connectedlast.Pleasefollowthesestepstoresolvetheissue:

1. Unplugthepowerfromthedock
2. UnplugalltheUSB,Ethernet,Video&Audiocables
3. Re‐plugpowertothedock
4. ConnecttheUSBdevices
5. ConnecttheEthernetport
6. Connectthevideocablestothemonitor(s)
7. ConnecttheUSB‐Ccabletothelaptop


A DIVISION OF ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
ThisshouldrestoreUSB3.0speedsandisaone‐timefixthatwillnotneedtobe
repeated.

Problem:
Ihaveconnectedmylaptoptothedock,butIcannotgetaudioonmyexternal
speakers/headsetthatIhaveconnectedtothedock.Iamstillgettingaudiooutof
mylaptop.HowdoIfixthis?
PossibleSolution:
Sometimesthecomputerwillnotautomaticallydefaulttotheaudiochannelcoming
outofthedock(becauseadriverisnotneededforthePC).Ifyouexperiencethis,go
toControlPanel‐>Sound‐>andselectUSBAudioasthedefaultaudiochannel.

ContactUs
IfyouarestillhavingtroublewithyourKensingtonUSB‐Cdockingstation,please
contactKensington’sTechnicalSupportteamat1‐800‐535‐4242intheU.S.
