Issue with connecting MacBook Pro 2019 with Targus Dock460 (Supports thunderbolt 3 and 4)

Are you talking about this docking station?

Targus – Targus USB4 Triple Video Docking Station with 100W Power (DOCK460USZ)

I'm not convinced that this is a Thunderbolt dock. It appears to be a dock that connects via

• USB-C (USB4, DisplayPort Alt Mode), or
• USB-C (USB 3.*, DisplayPort Alt Mode)

There are notes on the page saying (emphasis mine):

* USB-C DP Alt Mode: Single video up to 8K/30Hz, dual video up to 4K/60Hz and triple video up to 4K/30Hz; USB4 Mode: Single video up to 8K/60Hz, dual video up to 8K/30Hz and triple video up to 4K/60Hz

** A combination of DP1.4 HBR3 and DSC may enable higher resolution

***Dual and Triple extended video applies to MST supported host machines

Macs only support connecting one monitor over a plain USB-C dock. This dock has three video outputs – and it looks like it drives the extra ones using MST (rather than a DisplayLink-type workaround). On a Mac, the typical symptom would be that all displays driven using MST would get a copy of the same signal. The Mac would only detect one monitor, and the monitors would appear to mirror each other no matter what you did.

But that's just based on what I've seen other people report about their experiences with other docks using MST.

Wild guess: Maybe there's only one video output on the Targus docking station where you can connect a monitor and that monitor will be seen by a Mac. Maybe it's one of the two DisplayPort outputs instead of the HDMI one. I don't know enough about how MST works to say if this is the cause, but if this dock is using DisplayPort Alt Mode and is not using a DisplayLink-type workaround (some docks use both), that leaves MST as a likely suspect.

As for the ViewSonic Viewboard, that is the name of a entire product line with many different series and models.

I don't know which model you have, but for troubleshooting purposes, you could try taking the Targus docking station out of the equation, by connecting one of your Viewboard's video inputs directly to your MacBook Pro, using a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or adapter cable.

LucasAdriaenssens wrote:

I am experciencing a issue when connecting my Macbook Pro 16 inch, 2019 tot a Targus460 docking.

The setup consists of a ViewSonic Viewboard and a Targus Dock460.

The docking station is mounted under the table and connected to the Viewboard with HDMI.

The system works flawlessly with Windows laptops. However, complications arise when connecting a MacBook (in this case, a Pro 2019). The Viewboard does detect a signal — the ‘no input’ screen disappears and the resolution is displayed correctly — but the screen remains black. At the same time, the MacBook screen only shows backlight, without any image.

Is there something I am overlooking, or a step we are doing wrong?

I would love to hear how I can resolve this.

Thanks in advance.

If in doubt about your third party devices, eliminate the 'ViewSonic Viewboard' and a 'Targus Dock460' from the equation and compare your results.

The new macOS are increasingly fussy over sub-par cables for connecting external displays it is recommended to upgrade you cable connection using high quality cables certified ULTRA HDMI or PREMIUM ≤ 1.0 m length or USB-C Thunderbolt5 cables ≤ 0.5 m length cables rated for high-speed data. This is known to resolve issues like yours, compare your results and report back.

verify your software is up to date—

The current stable release of Tahoe including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 26.0.1

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