External Monitor not Working

[Arwen]

From my quick check, it appears to use USB-C Alternate mode HDMI, which is a totally different animal.

Where did you see that it supported USB-C Alternate mode DisplayPort?

I wish vendors where much clearer in their descriptions.

The manual says it uses "full-function USB-3.1 Type-C."  The Amazon listing for the touch-screen version says "In order to realize the touchscreen functions or single-cable power-data use, the connected devices (including smartphones and tablets) must support DisplayPort over Alternative Mode (DP ALT-MODE)." Which I took to mean that was the mode this device used.

I purchased it slightly used off eBay, which did not specify the type of USB-C connection, and of course, I didn't realize there was a difference until after I plugged it in and had to research why it wasn't working.

I suppose there's no way to change what the Pinebook uses....

Yes, your Amazon information does appear to be the correct USB-C alternate mode video type for the Pinebook Pro.

And no, their is zero chance of changing what the Pinebook Pro's USB-C video out can do. It's in the hardware.

One of my complaints about USB-C is that it tries to be everything to everyone. USB-C 4 takes that to a whole new level.


Now back to trouble shooting.

• Do you have the ability to test this external monitor's HDMI input?
  
• Their are 2 USB-C ports, if I recall correctly, did you use the correct one?
  
• Can you power the external monitor from another source, and send it USB-C data?
  

In regards to the last, it's possible that the external monitor simply uses too much power. Our Pinebook Pros are not intended to supply a high amount of power to USB connected devices. So powering the external monitor from a power brick and using the USB-C for data might make it work.