KD-E10 Monitor keeps working when MacBook goes to sleep

[ifel]

Hello,

Reporting another issue.

When I send (or it goes itself after inactivity) my MacBook Pro(s) connected to the KD-E10 with USB-C to sleep, the image disappears from the monitor, but the monitor does not go to sleep, its backlit is still on. It looks like there is a signal from the source, but it’s just “a black screen” screen-saver.

I tried this using 2 MacBooks - 16" MBP 2021 (M1 Pro, 32 GB), Model A2485 and 14" MBP 2021 (M1 Pro, 32GB), Model A2442. Both run the latest Sequoia 15.2 OS.

If I switch the port after putting the laptop to sleep (and the monitor still lights) from USB-C to DP/USB PC, it starts showing PC picture, and then, when I switch it back to USB-C (just in a few seconds, what matters here is switching port from USB-C and then back), the monitor turns off as expected.

I could not repro this with Lenovo laptop running Linux connected to USB-C, though it does not wake up when USB-C cable gets connect, so, it may be not quite a good data point.

What makes me think it’s not MacOS issue is, one of these laptops is a business one, and I constantly use it in the office, connecting directly to a Dell monitor using USB-C cable (the monitor works as the docking station and power supply). When the Mac goes to sleep (on a command or after inactivity timeout), the monitor immediately switches to sleep mode (it actually shows “no signal”).

This does not happen in 100% cases, I’d say in 95%, moreover, few times I left it for a few hours with the backlit on, and a couple of times it went to sleep after some time (I don’t know just a few hours later I found it off), but other times, even after a few hours the monitor was still not sleeping.

Thanks

[Kevin]

Hi,

As you mentioned that when testing with the Lenovo linux laptop and it not have this issue,so coulf you double check with the macbook sleep settings and the monitor settings:

1. Adjust MacBook Sleep Settings:
   Try adjusting the sleep settings on your MacBook to make sure that the display turns off as soon as it goes to sleep.
   Go to “System Preferences > Energy Saver” (on macOS Monterey or earlier) or “System Settings > Displays” (on macOS Ventura and later), and make sure the sleep settings are set appropriately.
   Also, try disabling “Prevent display from sleeping automatically when the display is off” if this is checked.

2. Check the Monitor Settings:
   Some monitors have settings to “auto-detect” the input source or automatically turn off when no input is detected. Check if there are any display settings to adjust that might help the monitor sleep when no signal is present.

[ifel]

Hello Kevin,

Thank you for the suggestions. Though, this did not work.

1. “make sure the sleep settings are set appropriately” - it’s a little bit unclear what sleep settings you’re talking about and what is appropriately. The thing is, there are NO sleep settings under the Display on Catalina, see the screenshot attached.
   

   
   
   The things in the Advanced relate to extending control to nearby macs and iPads.
   Though, I checked the power settings. The “Prevent display from sleeping automatically when the display is off” option is disabled.
   
   
   
   And the lock settings set in a way the screen goes to sleep before even the screen saver starts:
   
   

2. The monitor is set to the AutoDetect mode. When I put the PC to sleep, monitor also goes to sleep, so I’m in doubt that’s a monitor. Either way, I did some checks - when I put the Mac to sleep today and the monitor backlit was working, I opened the monitor’s menu (using monitor buttons) and it was showing 3840x2160@60HZ, the same, as when the laptop is working and showing an image. So, the monitor “sees” the signal.
   When I tried the same excercise with the PC conected, when PC is working, the monitor’s menu is available and it shows the resolution. Once I put it to sleep, monitor turns off, and if I click buttons on the monitor, it does not even show a menu with info and adjustments, it only shows the input selector.
   So, when Mac connected to USB-C sleeps the monitor receives a signal from KVM, when PC connected to DP/USB sleeps the monitor does not receive a signal from KVM.

I also did another test. I disconnected the following cables from KVM (only from KVM, the other ends remained connected to their points) - HDMI cable that goes to the monitor, USB Keyboard, and USB-C cable which goes to the power adapter, and connected all of those to the Mac directly (so HDMI to monitor, keyboard and power). Same cables, I just removed KVM from the picture. I woke up the Mac with the lid closed (as I do when I use the KVM). and then put it back to sleep - it worked, the image disappeared, backlit was on, and in half a second monitor turned off the backlit and went to sleep. This makes me thinking it’s the KVM.

I also tried to do put the Mac to sleep with lid open, so it used 2 monitors - its own, and external via KVM. It’s own turned off immediatelly, the external one (connected via KVM) was backlit.

[Kevin]

Thanks for your update and we will do more test in our lab to try reproduce this issue so engineer can have a check.

[ifel]

@Kevin how are you doing? I believe the Chinese new year is in the past now. Have your engineers had a chance to test and reproduce this?

[Kevin]

Hi Ifel, we keep use the device as our daily work and cannot reproduct the same issue with yours.
How about try disable the HDR options,Freesync and Gsync for the monitors and check?
Many thanks~

[ifel]

HDR option was disabled on my monitor, I tried to enable it with no change. VP3268-4K is a professional monitor and it does not support GSync/FreeSync, so I could not disable it.

I tried to disable other settings like Uniformity to off, Response Time and Low Input lag to standard. No change.

Do you use it with a Apple silicon based MacBook?

[ifel]

I just tried to repro this issue with another MacBook, but this time Intel based 2019 13". It works as expected. Same with Lenovo Linux machine.
But I have this problem with 2 different M1 (Apple silicon) MacBook pro laptops.

So, it looks like it’s not monitor settings, but KD-E10 compatibility issue with MacBook M1. I used another KVM switch (Amazon.com: KVM Switch HDMI 4 Port Box, AIMOS HDMI 2.0 KVM Switcher Support Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Connections and with USB Hub Port, UHD 4K@60Hz & 3D & 1080P Supported : Electronics) in the past with my setup (basically KD-E10 unit was a replacement) and I did not have this issue.

Can you try it with M1 Macbook pro?

[Kevin]

Hi, thanks for your update and we will try find if we have the mac to have a test,then get back to you asap.