What To Look For in a Docking Station
Mechanical efficiency and resiliency are among the most important issues faced by a docking station, especially when they will be dedicated to devices that are in constant daily use. The peripheral should mate securely with the station and release smoothly. It should be so clear and intuitive in its operation so as to be practically impossible to misuse. The electrical connection should be grounded to prevent shorts and other electrical faults. The entire package should be as well designed and engineered as possible so as to last for tens of thousands of plug ins and unpluggings. USB-C connections are standard for the electronics industry, so the docking station should support them. No matter what specific form the docking peripheral on the station may have, it should output to USB-C. Both power and data should be transferred by the docking station.
Purchasing Docking Stations
Fully completed docking stations are available online. They can be procured from the manufacturers or from third parties. They can be found in factory built, refurbished, and scratch-built configurations. Although the end user will know their particular needs and desires best, they may find that refurbished docking stations are sufficient for most personal purposes. Business customers or those who are stocking an entire organization may choose to go with the versions marketed by the manufacturer. Hobbyists, inventors and IT professionals may choose to go it alone and build their own docking station from scratch.
Making Docking Stations
The most important issues with building docking stations all revolve around the quality of the components and the accuracy of the installation. Sensitive electronics components should be purchased from reliable manufacturers and either personally tested or researched thoroughly. Docking connectors should be mechanically perfect and electronically reliable, such as those marketed by the IPEX corporation. They can be assembled and completed with a reasonable degree of electrical skill and study. Fortunately, there are any number of valuable videos and web pages that can impart specific information for electronics tasks such as these. Always remember to clear the work area and perform a clean installation to avoid problems in the future.
Repairing Docking Stations
As a docking station will typically see more misuse and rough use than either of the devices it joins, it is not uncommon to perform minor or major repairs on them. Simply identify the damaged component and procure a replacement part from a reliable manufacturer. The open architecture of most docking station systems make replacement and maintenance a snap. Do not forget that lint, dust, and other debris in the docking area can lead to problems in both the short and long term. Always clean the area and be certain to securely assemble the housing so as to prevent internal dust build up.
