Sound Problems Through Dell Docking Station

[npmeyer]

Hey all,

I have a Dell Inspiron 8500 and I've just switched to Ubuntu from Fedora Core 4 and so far I love it!

However, I do have a problem getting sound through the jack on my docking station. I get great sound through the laptop's built in speakers and through speakers when plugged in to the headphone jack on the laptop, but when speakers are plugged into the sound jack on the docking station, I can't get any sound. This was a problem with Fedora too until they fixed it in Fedora Core 4. Maybe somebody knows how Red Hat and Company figured it out.

I found an older post to this effect where several people claimed to be experiencing the same problem, but no one ever posted a solution. Does anyone know how to get this working? I played with the mixer settings, turning every channel up, and still couldn't get anything.

[jcpeart]

I am using LinuxMint Bea on a Dell laptop and having the identical problem with no sound through the jack on the docking station.

[dwangoac]

Well, I found a workaround, but it's not exactly a good one.

In alsamixer, enable the switch marked "IEC958". This enables direct SP/DIF output to the headphone jack, which means it's FULL VOLUME, ALL THE TIME. Caps for emphasis, of course.

I gave up and just started plugging my headphones in to the side of my laptop, but I'd like to get this working. If you have headphones / speakers with a volume controle, however, this solution might work for you.

Best of luck,

A.C.
******

[Meson]

Are the any updates to this issue? I'm tired of the not being able to adjust my volume.

[GrammatonCleric]

You should be able to adjust the volume if you change the Volume Applet from Master to PCM.

-GC

[Switch92]

Hey all,

I have a Dell Latitude D520 with a docking station and I'm experiencing the same problem. When I have the system on the docking station sound comes through the laptop's speakers not the desktop speakers. (With the speakers plugged into the headphone jack of the docking station.) Does anybody else have any ideas how I can fix this so that it can 'sense' when docked use desktop speakers?

[GrammatonCleric]

This is how I got my Dell D820 to work with the Docking station audio port....

With the laptop docked...


1. Right click on "Volume Applet" (the little speaker on the Gnome panel).

2. Select "Open Volume Control."

3. Now select Edit -> Preferences.

4. Put a check mark next to IEC958.

5. Click Close.

6. Click on the Switches tab in the Open Volume Control window.

7. Put a check next to the IEC958 option.

8. Select "Playback Tab" and mute "Master" (i.e. click on the little speaker icon below the Master level.)

9. Lower the volume level of the current PCM and close the Open Volume Control window.

10. Connect your speakers or head phones to the headphone audio port on the left side of the Dell Docking station.

11. Right click on "Volume Applet" (the little speaker on the Gnome panel) again.

12. Select Preferences.

13. In the window that appears select PCM then click Close (this changes the Volume Applet to control PCM volume instead of the Master).

14. Now try to play something, If the volume level is to loud left click on the Volume Applet and lower the level.

15. When the laptop is undocked you will need to the set Volume Applet (step 13) back to use the Master volume as well as un-mute it.

Enjoy,
-GC

[Meson]

Originally Posted by GrammatonCleric This is how I got my Dell D820 to work with the Docking station audio port....

I've been using the IEC switch to get audio through speakers connected to the docking station, however controlling the PCM certainly does not control the volume for me. I can really only mute or unmute. Volume needs to be adjusted from the control on the speakers. Some applications let me control volume with their own slider (like VLC and Rythmbox).

[GrammatonCleric]

Originally Posted by Meson I've been using the IEC switch to get audio through speakers connected to the docking station, however controlling the PCM certainly does not control the volume for me. I can really only mute or unmute. Volume needs to be adjusted from the control on the speakers. Some applications let me control volume with their own slider (like VLC and Rythmbox).

Hmmm.. setting the Volume Applet to PCM works like a charm for me. What is the is the Model and Part number of your dock?

Mine is ...

Model Number = PR01X
Part Number = 2U444 A01

-GC

[Switch92]

GC,

Model Number = PR01X

Part Number = 2U444 A01

Our devices are identical.