Support Guide for ViewSonic Portable Monitors

The portable line of monitors is designed for mobile work, whether users are traveling for business or just wanting to work at a café. Having a portable monitor ensures a light and simple setup. This will function like a second monitor user might have at work.

ViewSonic observed the trend of the increased need for efficiency and mobility for our users. To satisfy different user requirements, ViewSonic has offered a series of portable monitors - the VA1655, VG1655, TD1655, VX1755, and VP16-OLED. The VA1655 and the VG1655 series are for business uses, the TD1655 series comes with touch functionalities, whereas the VX1755 is designed for gaming. The latest VP16-OLED is made for professionals who need precise color accuracy.

Based on user feedback, this guide sorts out the most common issues users are encountering and provides solutions accordingly to help with using ViewSonic's portable monitors.

Issue 1: Portable Monitor displays “no signal” when plugged into a device.

• Explanation 1: Users might have plugged USB Type C into the wrong port. USB cables and ports would support data transfer, display transfer, and power transfer. However, not all USB Type C cables and ports function the same way. Unlike the ports on the VG1655 and the TD1655 that come with two full-functioning Type C ports, the top ports on both the VA1655 and the VX1755 are only functional for transferring power, whereas the bottom port is the USB Type C port. Additionally, users should ensure that the cable supports “USB 3.1 Type C”.

• Explanation 2: The users’ laptop doesn’t support Type C audiovisual output. If the users’ laptop doesn’t support USB Type C audiovisual output, they have the option to use the mini-HDMI to HDMI cable. However, HDMI cables can only transfer audiovisual data (not power transfer), therefore an external power source will still need to be connected to the portable monitor using the USB Type C to USB Type A cable.

Issue 2: Touch function does not work. (Only on the TD1655)

• Explanation 1: Users may have purchased the wrong model. Check if the model is the TD1655 with the touch function.

• Explanation 2: Users may have connected the laptop to the display using only an HDMI cord. HDMI ports and cords only support audiovisual transfer. Users will need to connect the portable monitor to their laptop or device with a USB Type C to USB Type A cable to enable the touch function.

Issue 3: Touch function does not work when connected to Apple devices.

• Explanation 1 (Mac): Apple’s OS works in a closed ecosystem, so it is not designed to communicate with applications outside Apple’s OS. To support Mac users to use the touch function, ViewSonic offers the vTouch driver for download: (here).

• Explanation 2 (IOS): When connecting the TD1655 to an iPhone or an iPad, the touch function would not work. Users can still transfer the display onto the portable monitor by using a lightning port to an HDMI dongle. Some later versions of the iPad have a Type C port. These ones are equipped for audiovisual output.

Issue 4: Portable monitor does not change orientation when connected to phone.

• Explanation: The portable monitors do not come with accelerometers. It does not detect whether the monitor is rotated in another direction. When connected to a phone, there will be two black spaces on both sides when displayed in portrait mode. Users may rotate their device to landscape mode to fill up the whole portable monitor screen. Some phones come with a feature that can extend the screen onto the portable monitor. It all comes down to the capabilities of the users’ phones.

Issue 5: The portable monitors do not charge.

• Explanation: Portable monitors do not come with built-in batteries. Users cannot charge portable monitors. Without connecting to an external power source, an average laptop with a brightness of 100 and a contrast of 70 can power the portable monitor for around 2 to 3 hours through a type C cord. It is still recommended to always connect the portable monitor to an external power source (power outlet/ power bank).

Issue 6: Cannot adjust the brightness of the monitor.

• Explanation 1: When there is not enough power entering the portable monitor, it enters a low-power mode. In this mode, the monitor is automatically adjusted to a brightness of 15 and contrast of 70. Users cannot change the brightness in this mode. To change this, users will need to plug the portable monitor into an external power source.

• Explanation 2: Users may access the OSD tree using the joy key/ side buttons when the portable monitor is powered. Brightness and contrast can be adjusted by going to Menu > Color Adjust > Brightness/Contrast