Hi @marcus2,
Thanks for your reply. It’s a huge relief that everything works! I will never use Wi-Fi or a cellular network (a bit childish, don’t you think?') again on my FP5 
Hi @marcus2,
Finally got my AWU420GL delivered. All attached devices work in Android Desktop mode! It all works without any configuration, including the (cabled) Ethernet-port. There are some considerations though:
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the resolution of the secondary (HDMI/DVI) screen is low. I estimate it to be 640x480 or 800x600. I can’t find a setting to change it. [settings\system\developer options\smallest width] doesn’t affect the external display’s resolution, only the phone’s display.
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attach all devices to the dock, including the FP5, before powering on the FP5, otherwise you’ll get a lowres black/white desktop. After a reboot, the desktop is OK.
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the FP5 isn’t charged when an USB-A charger (12W/2.4A) is connected to the dock. This means that the battery is drained during usage. Maybe an USB-C charger can solve this problem. Targus recommends a 25W (at least) USB-C charger, but the dock can only deliver 18W max. to the phone. I can’t find the power consumption specification of the FP5. When the power consumption of the FP5 exceeds 18W, the battery is still drained.
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all Google apps (e.g. Gmail, Docs, Sheets) work flawlessly, but other apps and websites have unclickable buttons/pull downs etc.
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my FP5 contains Android 14, which has a beta Desktop mode. Android 16 is supposed to function far better, and has enhanced features.
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the FP5 wobbles on the USB-C male plug of the dock: I fear for connector damage, so I use an USB-C-male to USB-C-female cable to connect the FP5
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there are only 2 USB-A ports on the dock, but you can use an extra USB-A hub (in your monitor e.g.) to connect mouse and keyboard, leaving one USB-A port on the dock free for an USB flash drive (e.g.)
Despite these caveats, I think this is a great solution for people who can use an Android phone, but find Windows/Linux too complex. This hub might also be valuable for connecting a braille display or monitor with touch screen for people with disabilities. I found working with Google apps very successful.
FTSOC:
- enable Developer mode: tap [settings\about phone\build number] 7 times
- enable [settings\display\desktop mode]
- enable [settings\system\developer options\force desktop mode]
Thanks again for you help @marcus2!
Kind regards, Odie
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Hi @odie ,
I’m happy that I could help you.
I use the dock with a usb-c charger from a notebook (just a random acer model, never though about it) and the phone is charging.
With my monitor the resolution is decent compared to other android desktops, but nothing for daily work with some cheesy apps which can by used with a mouse or in full screen.
Last week I updated to Android 15 but had no time to test it, yet.
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Hi @marcus2,
These are my findings after upgrading to Android 15:
[ISSUE] After a reboot the mouse and/or keyboard doesn’t work. [Workaround]: remove mouse/keyboard from USB-port, insert mouse/keyboard into USB-port again.
[ISSUE] When clicking the [square] button in the system tray (next to the triangle and round button) on the external monitor, the taskbar disappears. It re-appears on the external screen after closing all foreground tasks, but on the phone’s screen the lower taskbar (with triangle, round and square button) is unrecoverable. [Workaround]: reboot the FP5, to show the lower taskbar on the phone’s screen again. when the mouse and/or keyboard are not working: remove mouse/keyboard from USB-port, insert mouse/keyboard into USB-port again.
[ISSUE] When opening the settings (gear) menu on the external display, and scrolling down, not all menu items are shown. The lower two items are hidden. [Workaround]: Use your phone screen to access the settings menu.
[ISSUE] After a reboot, with a powered-on external monitor, the “Mirror to external display?” message pane doesn’t appear. The desktop cannot be shown on the external monitor. [Workaround]: Enable the following options: [FP5\settings\system\developer options\force activities to be resizable] and [FP5\settings\system\developer options\enable non-resizable in multi window] option, power-off FP5, power-off dock (USB-C power supply), power-off monitor, remove FP5 from dock, wait 10 seconds, insert FP5 into dock, power-on dock, power-on monitor, power-on FP5 > the “Mirror to external display?” message pane is shown, click [Mirror Display], remove mouse and/or keyboard from USB port, insert mouse and/or keyboard into USB port again.
Keeping these small limitations in mind, it’s pretty nice to work with when you only use Google apps and Google Chrome.
Note: When switching on the [FP5\settings\display\Desktop mode] option, the following options ARE automatically enabled:
- [FP5\settings\system\developer options\enable freeform windows] and [FP5\settings\system\developer options\force desktop mode],
but the following options ARE NOT automatically enabled: - [FP5\settings\system\developer options\force activities to be resizable] and [FP5\settings\system\developer options\enable non-resizable in multi window].
Found [FP5\settings\display\display size and text] settings:
- default font size = 2/7 > changed to 1/7 (lowest) > DOES change the font size in Google Docs, but when using the [Google Docs\3-dot-button\Print layout] mode, you can also adjust the font size using [Ctrl]+[Scroll Wheel]
- default display size = 2/5 > changed to 1/5 > DOESN’T change anything on the external screen, only on the phone screen > useless
Found apps to change resolution on external monitor:
- Braden Farmer SecondScreen > doesn’t present the resolution of my monitor (1280 x 1024), and you can’t add your own WxH values > rejected
- TribalFS Pixels: Resolution+DPI Changer > Privacy violating app > rejected
Did you perhaps find a suitable app to change the resolution on the external monitor?
Greetz, Odie
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Hi there,
is there a list of compatible USB-C docks working with the FP5? There is a thread here bu already closed due to inactivity. The thread is mentioning e.g. targus docks but this specific model seems out of stock.
Maybe someone knows how this “water in USB-port” issue can be solved as I would like to charge the phone and get a signal out via HDMI!?
I tried:
Digitus USB-C to HDMI: WORKS (but is only an adapter, no charging)
Lenovo Thunderbolt Workstation dock gen2: I get a picture but it is not charging (“water”)
Lenovo USB-C Dock: Charges but no picture
UGreen Revodok 5 in 1: Either charges and no picture or says water in port and shows a picture depending on in which order I connect the dock to the phone and the power supply to the dock (5VDC, 5A).
The Ugreen was a cheap shot but I really don’t want to spend 60+€ for trying other docks that might or might not work.
Do you have any suggestions?
Best regards.
Can you send me a link to the topic to reopen and merge? Thanks
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Hi, it is this one:
Hi
not sure but perhaps that will help
I have bought this one
It is a Polish company and I am not sure if they have an English version of their website
In the beginning it did not want to work at all with my screen (but I could see it is working for ethernet, a USB mouse and alike).
After some trial and error I learnt the way to make it work - mirroring the display.
I need to
- charge the monitor using one of the USB-C ports (the first step)
- connect the monitor using the HDMI from the dock (the connection is not stable and vulnerable to movement)
If I want to charge my phone (the setting drains the battery pretty fast), the order matters - I don’t remember exactly but the wrong order would lead to the liquid in the USB message and stop the connection. I think the plugging the phone must be the last thing.
USB-C on a dock did not work for transfer.
Both devices (the external monitor and the dock) were pretty cheap and I treat it as a last resort (but it saved me on my holidays last week).
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I finally bought a Delock 61063 and it works. Maybe I am wrong but it seems as if Alt-Mode and a sufficient power supply is necessary.