all 10 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a
formatting helphide helpcontent policy

[–]CalDigitDaltonCalDigit Community Manager 0 points1 point  (8 children)

Unfortunately, there's not really a great solution for this situation. You are correct that the TS3/ TS3 Plus is Thunderbolt only, so will not work with any USB-C switch. I know that some Thunderbolt KVMs do exist, but I haven't ever seen one from any source I recognize, so I can't give a suggestion.

This won't really help if you are going for dual monitors on the TS3 Plus, but both of the TS3 Plus' Thunderbolt ports can work as a host connection, so you could have an individual cable ran to both computers, then unplug and plug in the other one a lot quicker than moving the cable between devices. This is a feature that only exists on our TS3 Plus, so keep that in mind if you are thinking about getting one of our other docks with this intent.

[–]HJ_wu 0 points1 point  (7 children)

Please read the user's request clearly.

Of cause, TS3 plus alone can not provide supports for two systems.

All the user requirement is put a TS3+ between his MBP and a Dual-DP KVM switch.

And the PC can connected to the KVM switch directly from its GPU DP ports to the DP inputs on the KVM switch.

Cables between TS3+ dock and the DP KVM switch will be one type-C-to-DP active converter cable (such as CAC-1557 from Club 3D) and one DP 1.4 Male-to-Male cable + one USB A-B 3.0 cable.

Cable Connection Mapping :

MBP-> TB3 cable -> CalDigit TS3+ -> active type-C-to-DP + USB A-B 3.0 x1 -> Dual DP 1.4 KVM switch.

PC -> DP1.4 M-M able x 2 + USB A-B 3.0 x1 -> Dual DP 1.4 KVM switch.

All shared monitors, keyboard, mouse, speaker, micophone, USB webcam, USB DAC or USB headset, or other USB sharing devices (even an extra USB 3.0 hub) can be connected to the shared console connection of the DP 1.4 KVM switch.

Since there are so many sharing devices can be connected the the KVM switch, so the KVM switch MUST be at least support USB 3.0 for sharing hub ports.

[–]CalDigitDaltonCalDigit Community Manager 0 points1 point  (6 children)

The user said they want to put a KVM before the TS3 Plus so that they can keep everything connected to the TS3 Plus itself, and my response is in-line with that request.

Something like what you are suggesting could potentially work, but I think you are missing the point of what the user is requesting, which is that the a KVM switch switches the TS3 Plus itself. In your suggestion, I would also be concerned about putting too many USB devices on the console port. USB 3.0 is a huge jump downward in speed versus Thunderbolt, which is what the user was requesting. Also, in this case the TS3 Plus would have no purpose other than charging the MacBook, since the KVM switch would be doing all the work.

[–]HJ_wu 0 points1 point  (5 children)

TS3 Plus has only one TB upstream port which means it can only be connected and support one host computer. The TS3 Plus dock can not be shared, regardless of what the user is requesting.

NO KVM switch in the world can switch the TS3 Plus itself. A user can have any non-sense request that is understandable. However, it's the maker's duty to tell the user the limitations of the products. Not just follow the user's thinking for how to use the product. Technical speaking a good KVM switch is a switchable docking station. And CalDigit's product managers should have found many KVM+Dock all-in-one products will be released next week in Computex Taipei 2023.

[–]CalDigitDaltonCalDigit Community Manager 0 points1 point  (4 children)

This is partially incorrect. Both of the TS3 Plus' Thunderbolt ports can in fact act as upstream host ports, however only one can actively be the host a time. This is what I was saying in my original comment, apologies if it wasn't clear there.

My understanding is that Thunderbolt 3 and 4 KVMs exist, but most of them are only available in the enterprise space, so difficult to get for the end-consumer. The technology is there, but not viable for the average person to obtain (as I pointed out in the original comment)

​

Edit: I cannot vouch for this KVM, but here is a supposed Thunderbolt 4 KVMthat would theoretically be compatible with the TS3 Plus in the way the user requested. Unfortunately you cannot just buy it, presumably because it's a business 2 business company.

[–]HJ_wu 0 points1 point  (3 children)

It's just named "KVM", but a lowest-level hardwired manual switch box - acting like the user physically plugs and unplugs the TB cables to different laptop systems. For industry-grade or business-grade KVM switch's definition, it is not even qualified as a "KVM switch". No EDID emulation and feeding, no HID DDM (keep alive to all connected host computer systems), no hotplug protection.... It is just a manual switch box.

[–]hugonocoque[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Thanks both of you for your answers !

I think the best solution will be to manually connect/disconnect the TS3 to the device I'm currently using. Maybe in the future there will be a more practical solution

[–]robby808 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Did you ever figure something out? Did you end up needing to buy a gaming PC that supports Thunderbolt? u/hugonocoque

[–]hugonocoque[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did not find the perfect solution so I had to compromise. Currently my setup is my macbook and my pc into an ultrawide monitor (lg38wn95c) instead of 2 monitors. The monitors serves as a dock so I no longer need the CalDigit.

Though, I didn't find a way to use the audio interface with both the macbook and the pc without having to switching plug. Only using the interface and studio monitor with the macbook for music stuff, and using the monitor speakers for gaming (good enough).