Docking station compatibility

[JakeAHP]

I'm desperately looking for a dock for my new Spectre, since it only provides USB-C. I've researched and learnt that the Spectre is not compatible with generic USB-C chargers, and only charges on HP USB-C chargers. Is there a compatible dock from HP in the works, or is there a third party one?

[Huffer]

I think you must mean you have the Spectre 13 world's thinnest. I also have one. I can confirm it works with the HP usb-C charger 45w in addition to the somewhat larger adapter that ships wih it:

http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-45w-usb-c-ac-adapter?jumpid=ba_r329_hhocse&aoid=44661&003=6663635&0...

3rd party USB-C chargers do not work. That is correct. 

This dock will work. 

http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=4AA6-3246ENW&doctype=data%20sheet&doclang=EN_U...

Post back with any other questions. 

[JakeAHP]

Thanks for your response!

I'm not to keen on that particular dock, as my research turned up the following info:

"Although it works, I would no recommend this dock. It is actually a type-A dock with a type-C plug. It only uses the 5gbps USB 3.0 bandwith for all its connections."

I would obviously like to take advantage of thunderbolt bandwidth, but I gather that the HP Elite Thunderbolt 3 65W Dock
(P5Q54AA) probably won't charge my Spectre, and it is also quite pricey.

Thoughts? 🙂

[Huffer]

I have actually not tried an HP dock for my Spectre 13. I also have a Zbook 15 G3 mobile workstation that HP loaned me and they sent me a Zbook dock with it and that is working fairly well but will not work with the Spectre because it has a weird charging cable with both a standard center pin power connector and USB-C plug right next to it. I have been "docking" my Spectre by keeping its original AC adapter in a fixed location (my desk at home). I use the smaller 45w adapter for travel, keeping it in my briefcase. I bought a usb-C multifunction adapter that has gigabit ethernet, a DP and 2 x USB 3.0 ports which I use for keyboard and mouse, the DP for the monitor and the ethernet for network. I can have another USB 3.0 using the last USB-C port with the one-port adapter that shipped with the Spectre. I have the Spectre set up so I can connect the two USB-C devices (power and multi-purpose adapter) close the lid and it displays to the monitor and I can use mouse and keyboard. Not the most elegant but almost as good as a true docking station. The Thunderbolt bandwidth is great in theory but there are not a lot of devices that can take advantage of it right now. I am not sure exactly how you would be missing out using the dock but I think I paid $69 or so for the multi-purpose adapter and $45 for the 45w AC adapter on sale at Frys.   

[JakeAHP]

Thanks for your input once again!

I've been wondering about the Zbook dock and the weird charging cable you mention - since half of it is just a USB-C plug, would it possibly work to simply replace the weird cable with a regular USB-C to USB-C cable, foregoing the power supply? In that case, that would be a very nearly optimal solution, with only having to plug in two cables to the laptop when docking: USB-C from the charger for power, and USB-C from the dock for Thunderbolt connectivity. 

[Huffer]

But the other end of the weird cable is what supplies power to the dock so I don't think you could find something that both supplied power to the dock and then ended in just a USB-C connection and not the center pin power thing. 

[JakeAHP]

Ah i see - so the dock is actually powered by the PC and not the other way around? That's an interesting design 😮

[Huffer]

No the dock has its own power supply but the lead from the brick to the dock is a standard AC adapter and then the lead from the dock to the laptop is double headed on both ends. So it appears to be carrying power both on a USB-C lead and also on a center pin standard power supply thing. And every time you start the Zbook off the dock it tells you that USB-C powered operation is not supported. I have not tried the HP 45w on the Zbook but given to understand it would charge the battery when off but would not run the laptop. Anyway I am 100%  confident my Zbook dock is useless with the Spectre. I believe the other 2 docks, the one I linked and the one you linked, WOULD charge and run the Spectre. The Spectre has no pop up message saying USB-C power operation while on is not supported. It obviously is. 

[alitechno]

@Huffer

Are you able to tell us which dock you mention? The multifunction one? Was it an HP one or an aftermarket one?

Please provide a link to the product?

[Huffer]

Please start your own thread don't just tack onto old ones.