Level 1

19 points

Macbook Pro 16inch & CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock cSleep Crash

Hi I see several other people posting similar issues recently but they are now closed.

I have just purchased a Macbook pro 16inch and Caldigit TS3 dock. If the laptop goes to sleep with the dock connected, the machine crashes and when i go to use the laptop again the laptop has reboot, upon login I get a kernal panic message.

If I unplug the dock before the computer is put to sleep, no problem.

I have connected to the dock, 1 x display port monitor and 2 x USB 3 external drives.

The dock is already running the firmware 44.1 the latest which supposedly is to fix the issue.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Apr 16, 2020 4:03 AM

Top-ranking reply

tigerspew Author

Level 1

19 points

Posted on Apr 17, 2020 7:41 PM

I got onto chat support with Caldigit yesterday. Followed the attached procedure, and im happy to say since I did this, the machine has not crashed on sleep once. Ill come back if it the issue returns, but I can recommend following the procedure in the below transcript. Ill mark this as solved for now.

Chat started on 16 Apr 2020, 10:57 PM (GMT+0)

(10:57:20)*** Patrick Brown joined the chat ***(10:57:21)Patrick Brown: TS3 dock mabook pro crashes when sleep(10:57:33)*** Kevin (US) joined the chat ***

(10:57:41)Kevin (US): Hi Patrick(

10:57:51)Kevin (US): Sorry to hear you're experiencing this issue

(10:58:08)Kevin (US): May I confirm that you're using the included CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect the dock to your computer?

(10:58:13)Patrick Brown: Yep

(10:58:19)Kevin (US): Thanks for that information

(10:58:27)Patrick Brown: Brand new MacBook Pro 16 inch and ts3 bought from Apple

(10:58:33)Kevin (US): Understood

(10:58:42)Patrick Brown: Im running the latest firmware it arrived with 44.1

(10:58:47)Kevin (US): Got it

(10:58:57)Kevin (US): Alright there are a couple of troubleshooting steps we can try

(10:59:09)Patrick Brown: ok

(10:59:11)Kevin (US): Are you on the computer now with the TS3 Plus dock connected to the computer?

(10:59:17)Patrick Brown: yep

(10:59:19)Kevin (US): Perfect

(10:59:28)Kevin (US): Would you please open the Terminal application?

(10:59:36)Patrick Brown: sure one moment

(10:59:51)Patrick Brown: ok its open

(10:59:57)Kevin (US): ok

(11:00:01)Kevin (US): please type the following command

(11:00:07)Kevin (US): sudo nvram -c

(11:00:13)Kevin (US): You should then be asked for your password

(11:00:22)Kevin (US): Type that in and press enter when done

(11:00:41)Kevin (US): If done correctly, you should be brought down to the next command line down, is that the case?(11:01:16)Patrick Brown: ok that's done

(11:01:22)Kevin (US): Great

(11:01:38)Patrick Brown: yep it dropped to the next line

(11:01:44)Kevin (US): To complete the process, you will need to shut down the computer, but while the computer is shut down, I suggest resetting the SMC on the computer as well

(11:01:55)Kevin (US): You can find how to do this by referring to the following Apple support article

(11:01:56)Kevin (US): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

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39 replies

proam500

Level 1

4 points

Jul 22, 2020 9:17 AM in response to tigerspew

I have a 2019 16 MBP and have the same issues as everyone else seems to be having with this docking station. I have updated the firmware and the latest OS 10.15.6 update on my Mac, and still get crashes 9/10 times. I have tried connecting my monitor directly to my MBP via displayport-to-usbc cable and still get crashes. Last night, I even had my MBP freeze twice while unlocked and monitor on that required hard reboots. To say that this is disappointing is a severe understatement. I cannot understand why this product gets such high praise and reviews. Do the other thunderbolt docks have the same issues?

sw1889

Level 1

4 points

Aug 16, 2020 3:35 AM in response to jimbun

I’m experiencing the same issues with a brand new 2020 13” MacBook Pro and the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD.

I found this thread after considering upgrading the Belkin dock with the CalDigit TS3 Plus.

I think I will still upgrade the Belkin dock to the TS3 Plus because I don’t believe this issue is necessarily dock related. The connectivity of the TS3 Plus is far superior to the Belkin, and the provision of an optical out is reason enough for me to upgrade.

I have experienced similar kernel panics with my Apple 27” Thunderbolt Display connected directly into my MacBook Pro via the Apple Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C Adapter.

In my opinion, the issue is more likely to be Catalina Sleep related or may even be to do with other USB devices I have connected to the Thunderbolt Display.

following this thread with interest.

Sep 24, 2020 7:26 PM in response to tigerspew

The question happens also on my MBP 16". What I have experienced was deep hibernation and (sometime ?) kernel panic. I bought a ts3+ and requested to exchange another one hence now I have two temporarily. I assume the one I originaly bought is A, and the exchanged one is B. When I connect MBP with A under clamshell mode and sleep MBP over some time (less than 2 hours usually) it enters deep sleep, or say hibernation or safe sleep which is called by Apple, and only by pushing power button can wake it up. And I also tested B, the issue was pretty the same if I use the power adapter of A. However, if I use the power adpter packaged with B, it caused kernel panic, which showed "sep panic sepd/akf". Now I am totally confused. Any one has idea?

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,821 points

Apr 17, 2020 10:05 AM in response to hkhairy306

That indicates the Dock process crashed, not a kernel panic.

Do you have a panic log?

Jun 1, 2020 8:19 AM in response to jordiardit

I tried a MacBook Air 2018, and also crashed, so the issue not only affects the 16 inch Pro. I will return the CalDigit...

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,821 points

Jul 1, 2020 3:16 PM in response to shacked

I'm not sure what the contributing factor is; I certainly used to have occasional panics but haven't since I installed 10.15.5.

shacked

Level 1

4 points

Oct 9, 2020 3:16 PM in response to standingdreams

The issue is not happening for me anymore. Have you updated the TS3+ firmware? That plus maybe OS updates I’ve had since then have sorted it for me.

tigerspew Author

Level 1

19 points

Apr 16, 2020 3:53 PM in response to leroydouglas

Hi thanks for your response, however I disagree regarding compatibility.

The dock is sold by apple directly, its where I purchased it from at the same time as the laptop. Compatibility on the TS3 product page lists MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) as a compatible product.

Why fight it? The dock is widely reviewed as one of the best USB-C docks in comparisons. I did my research, this unit presented as the best option, sold directly by apple, which itself lists compatibility with the computer I purchased, so I think its fair I expected this to work.

Product link here -> https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/HMX12X/A/caldigit-ts3-plus-dock?fnode=a46949307914aa23694c8ea42cf25d878e8ec2ed0e06a6a4dfb43afd51f1789e2550c99579c0974552d5215f1af44915ddec4892621865efb4865f8fb38cb9a2af50ce7f8d09edf7722d979e4e1d9d5d2101f61670e0eb81187154b28da7b7f6

Ill try customer support again today and see where I get too. Keen to hear from others who might be having the same issue.

tigerspew Author

Level 1

19 points

Apr 19, 2020 4:07 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Hi William,

Thanks for the response. When you say its a known issue - do you mean its known amongst this community, or Apple officially are aware and consider it a known issue? Just wondering if there's any further information published anywhere - Id be happy to share with them my logs etc.

Cheers

Regards

shacked

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2020 1:25 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Note it also isn’t universal; for some reason my MBP 16 does not experience this issue.

Do you think it's possible there is a hardware issue with the CalDigit dock? I'm having the same issue too. Latest firmware on the dock and bang up to date in the OS.

I have reported to Apple this morning, but will contact CalDigit too. Pretty frustrating as a lot of us seem to have dropped the cash for a new MBP + TS3.

jimbun

Level 1

4 points

Jul 27, 2020 5:08 AM in response to tigerspew

I have the same issue except it is kind of opposite – If the laptop goes to sleep with the dock connected, it’s fine. However, if I disconnect the laptop and the dock overnight (don’t want to keep charging the laptop) and connect it in the morning, the laptop crashes. Interestingly, after restarting the laptop, no matter how I connect/disconnect them, it functions just fine. I don’t know why unplug it overnight would present the issue. Mine is Macbook pro 13inch 2020 and Caldigit TS3 dock.

Oct 9, 2020 3:12 PM in response to tigerspew

I reached out to CalDigit today regarding TS3 Plus crashing. They told me this is the first time they ever heard of this issue. I was just going to get a new TS3 but the rep said he's tested the hub on several 16" MBP and that the issue was MY SPECIFIC UNIT. Then I come here and see 3 pages worth of people saying they are having issues with their 16" MBP and the CalDigit TS3. Someone needs to address the issue because even if it's not widespread...it's happening enough to raise concern, right?

Apr 18, 2020 5:34 AM in response to tigerspew

tigerspew wrote:

I got onto chat support with Caldigit yesterday.

but I can recommend following the procedure in the below transcript. Ill mark this as solved for now.

Was there a punch line here?

tigerspew Author

Level 1

19 points

Apr 19, 2020 3:03 AM in response to tigerspew

I can confirm this fix is only temporarily, as mentioned below. 1 day later and system crashes every time on sleep. Error log attached.

Guess ill be sending it back too...

Error Report

Sep 25, 2020 8:38 AM in response to shacked

Of course, both docks have the latest firmware.

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Macbook Pro 16inch & CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock cSleep Crash