Dell WD19TBS Docking Station issue

[mikelaflamme]

Here are a couple of tips to help my fellow Dell docking stations users out. 1) Turn the dock (and therefore the laptop) on from the Power button on located on the docking station. Don't turn the laptop on first and then "Hot plug" the USB-C cable from the dock into the laptop. 2) If you have no video signal on the monitors connected to the dock, the process to reset the dock is to unplug all the cables connected to it, leave the power to it unplugged for at least 5 minutes, then reconnect the power cable only, you will see the Power button on the dock flash three times indicating the docking station has past its power on self test, now you connect each video cable to the dock, and remaining peripherals, lastly you plug the USB-C thunderbolt cable into the laptop. 3) The major issue of no video signal on monitors connected to the dock can be caused by SuperSpeed Hub device common to Dell laptops. The default settings for the device is "Allow the computer to turn the (USB-C port) off to save power". Deselecting this setting should resolve the issue for those users with power saving setting such as Sleep mode enabled. 4) Download the Docking Station firmware update tool from Dell to ensure your docking station is running the latest software. 5) By default the settings enabling USB-C thunderbolt docking in Dell laptops is turned on in the Bios, but if your having issues, you might want to double check that its enabled. Press F2 at startup to access the Bios settings.

[Rubyventura]

I’m having a similar issue. Monitor keeps tuning on and off. So frustrating

[MrShadownoise]

I've had lots of trouble with Dell dock WD19S, which at times worked then mostly didn't with my Precision 7560. That even had a brand new mobo under warranty but nothing changed.

The WD19S comes with a 180w PSU just like the 7560 did, but max output over USBC/TB is 130W. This invariably gave me warnings I could ignore, or turn off in the BIOS, and it was enough to charge the battery and run the laptop - except when it decided not to connect at all.

Recently Dell have removed the WD19S from the compatibility list for the 7560, so I finally followed the Dell tech's advise to get a WD19DC instead. The DC has a 240W PSU and dual USB/TB connectors.

That gave me lots of interesting errors, about not being compatible with 2 docks simultaneously, and inadequate power. Well, I gave up on the WD19S months ago, and it hasn't been connected ever since. Also how the hell could a dock with 240W in/210W out not be enough for a laptop that comes with a 180W PSU?

I refreshed the BIOS with defaults, that didn't help.

Finally I cleared the BIOS logs of lots of historic errors from the WD19S, rebooted and the WD19DCS has been good as gold ever since, I was even able to update its firmware and drivers.

TL/DR
- All single USB/TB connector WD19 versions can only supply 130W from 180W input, including your WD19TBS. This may not be enough, especially with external monitors connected, and especially on laptops that have OE 180w PSU. The WD19DC supplies 210W with both connectors installed (though in fact only turns on one most of the time).

- clear the damn BIOS logs. It seems to a be a UEFI feature that they persist as active flags of machine problems, even after the problems have been solved. The only way past that is clearing the logs.

It would be interesting to plug in your OE PSU to the laptop as well as the dock connection/PSU. I have a suspicion your monitors then won't shut down. In other words that the WD19TBS is not providing enough power by itself, just as my WD19S didn't. But clear the logs first!

[hungnguyenkhanh]

I have the same issue with DELL PRECISION 7730 and the Dock WD16DC. The 2 monitor screen is on and off frequently. Can not work.
How did your issue resolve?

[der_woe]

Very similar issues with my Alienware m15r7+WD19TB, have to unplug at least once every morning at the office (3x dell 27" wqhd screens) or at one of our customers (3x eizo fhd screens), only at home with my single ultrawide /dwqhd screen there seems to be no problem at startup.
Once the system is running with that triple monitor setup, i have now and then some monitor blackouts, thats strange wondering if they managed to fix this with that wd22 dock

[garybarham]

I’ve heard that theses docking stations are unstable over time. But I would have tried two more things, first the computer on and plugged into the dock unplug the the monitors and plug them in one by one have seen this on YT this week. Or second see if there is any firmware updates needed on doc itself I had this on a HP G2 dock. Good luck.🖖

[corentillywesterman]

Don't forget to upgrade de firmware of that Dock!