Surface dock 2 not connecting to monitors using usb-c cables

Anonymous
2020-07-15T13:06:07+00:00

I purchased two new surface dock2 to connect our surface pro 7 to our widescreen monitors using usb-c cables. Neither of the monitors would connect through the usb-c ports.

One monitor is an LG 38WK95C. The other is a Dell ultrasharp U3818DW. The LG monitor previously worked connecting to a macbook pro through the usb-c port.

To be clear, I first connected the surface dock 2 to one of the surface pro 7 devices and connected the Dell to the surface dock 2 through the usb-c. A messages was displayed to the effect that the monitor should be connected through a displayport. The monitor never showed up in windows, although you would get the sound like a monitor was recognized and the displayport message. Using the "detect monitor" feature came back with "no monitor detected".

I then connected the LG to the other surface pro 7 device through the surface dock 2. The exact same behavior occurred.

Windows update showed no updates available. I then manually updated the firmware on one of the surface pro 7 devices. Still no joy.

Surface | Accessories | Surface Dock

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-02-11T17:44:53+00:00

    Just an update on my issue.  On my one setup with a USB-C to display port I have to have the dock connected to the computer in a specific direction.  I just bought another dock and monitor for my home.  This time with a Dell U4320Q using USB-C and everything works correctly.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-02-11T14:01:05+00:00

    Surface Laptop 3 and HP 27f monitor. Fantastic connecting over USB-c and 1.5m cable from iTec.
    All refresh rates work, all admissible screen resolutions, too. 

    Dock2 installed properly. Audio, Ethernet, USB, LAN - all functioning.

    Monitors? Issues as everyone described - unbelievable.
    I installed Displaylink. Used with another HP docking station. Excellent results. Unistalled it again.
    Uninstalled even Kaspersky KTS . No difference. 

    The only walk around was 75Hz for external monitor configured in the USB-c of Surface Laptop and extended view.

    Afterwards I switched the cable into the Dock 2.
    Firmware 5.19.139 . Tests give all a pass. 

    I also opted out from DFCI management in UEFI. see this Intune management of Surface UEFI settings - Surface | Microsoft Docs 

    Something looks like hardware issue imho. I will wait one more week and return the doc2 as unsatisfied customer of MS. 
    Other ideas are welcome. 

    Update:

    I have bought the adaptor from Microsoft. Monitor connects with a very good quality HDMI-cable to it and subsequently to the docking station.
    To my surprise: it works!
    I could use it to 50Hz, 60Hz, full HD. No experience with 4K.

    The HDMI-USBc Cable was from iTEC, and works fine when connected to the USB port of the laptop.
    **IMHO,**the maximal cable length of 1m for USB 3.1 is extended too much using the docking station plus another medium quality cable and this is why the monitor is not recognized when connected remotely from computer.
    When we plug the monitor straight in the Surface's USB port, the length is OK and monitor works.
    The bottleneck may be the jumping point from USB cable structure (few cores) to HDMI port and cable structure (many cores, different impedances, etc).

    I wanted to share with you. ****

    Anyway, it works now.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-01-28T11:06:34+00:00

    Also, I initially used the cables that came with the monitor and tied different connection options.  I could see the monitor but just couldn't use the display manager.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-01-28T11:04:36+00:00

    I purchased a high-end cable and not go.  I can see my monitor but the display manager doesn't work. I have 0 issues when connected directly to my laptop to the monitor but I specifically purchased the docking station from Microsoft so I wouldn't have to do this.  Microsoft....the gift that keeps giving.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-01-28T07:56:46+00:00

    I had the same issue, and tried all the suggestions on forums like turning the laptop connection through 180 degrees and using usbc to hdmi adapter. 

    I was using my previous hdmi cable that had ferrite noise suppression cores on it and thought I'd try another newer cable. Bingo! 

    Fired up straight away! My assumption is that it wasn't compatible with the older hdmi cable or the ferrite cores were blocking the monitor discovery signal.

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