Wired ethernet connection dropping while connected to a TB3 docking station

[jjwinc]

I have an HP 15t-eb100 laptop and I'm trying to connect to a TB3 docking station to run two HP x32c monitors, speakers, wireless usb mouse, and wired ethernet internet connection.  Everything works except for the wired internet. When I first plug it in, it works for a few minutes and then drops out. Sometimes a reboot works, other times it does not.  Sometimes if I let it sit, it will magically start working for a few more minutes, but it's offline more than on. 

When I had two HDMI monitors, I used a Plugable docking station (UD-6950Z) that worked perfectly fine through the USB-C port. I never had problems with the internet dropping and everything else worked perfectly fine.  This problem started when I purchased A) two new HP monitors to take advantage of a higher refresh rate and B) a TB3 docking station that could handle higher refresh rate.

The problem spans multiple docking stations. I first tried a Wavlink (UGUTD21) TB3 docking station and, just yesterday, an HP (‎2UK37AA) TB3.

This led me to believe it may be driver related. Using HPs support site, I downloaded updated BIOS F.12 from 10/22, but it didn't help.  There were a few Windows 11 updates, but none of them fixed the issue. Next I tried forcing an update to the HP Thunderbolt Dock G4 Firmware and to the HP USB-C Dock G5.  The firmware update asks you to keep the dock plugged in throughout the update process...but both apps were unable to detect either of the connected docks.  As a result, there's nothing to update. I checked both docks to see if there were any TB devices that needed to be approved - there weren't.  It saw both docks as pre-approved.

I'm at the end of my rope with this laptop and I'm just assuming that it can't do what I need to do. As a last ditch effort, I'm reaching out to the community to see if anyone else experienced this problem and, if so, were you able to solve it?

If I'm not able to take advantage of wired ethernet, then I might as well just save the money and buy a video splitter and use wifi. My only concern there is I use the laptop for video conferencing where we're sharing screens, video chat, etc.  I have strong wifi, but ethernet is far more reliable.  Any help would be appreciated.

[jjwinc · Accepted solution]

I may have solved my own problem. Posting here in case others run into the same issue.

I opened device manager and plugged the dock in. I noticed a new network adapter loaded - Realtek USB Gbe Family Controller loaded. It was version 11.4.211.2020 from 3/9/2016.

HP update failed to recognize an update device driver for this device, so I went directly to Realtek's site and found a Win11 All-in-One installer that showed a much newer version (1153.9.20.823 from 8/23/2022).

Downloaded, installed, and my ethernet connection returned immediately. On top of that, the laptop now charges while connected to the dock. The ethernet has been on for two hours and hasn't dropped yet (it would have by now).

I'll post another update in a few days.

[jjwinc]

My solution worked.connection hasn't dropped since the manual update from Realtek's site.