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3 PC's + 4K Switcher - Is there a way to make it behave like a KVM?

H

Happy73

Junior Member
Hi,

I have 3 PC's I'll be setting up in the following manner:
PC 1 - 4 monitors + output to 4K TV
PC 2 - 4 monitors + output to 4K TV
PC 3 - 2 monitors + output to 4K TV

These all need to output/input into the same TV so I bought a 'switcher' that I thought would act like a KVM and retain some sort of proxy signal to keep my PC's from thinking that everytime I 'switch' to another PC, I'm disconnecting the TV. Testing this out with one of my PC's that is connected to a few monitor and the switcher + TV, this does not seem to be the case. Every time I do actually switch to another input, it's resetting the position of my monitors as if I've just disconnected the TV.

There is minimal instruction with the switcher and I'm assuming this is standard behavior from of a switcher; being one of the things that differentiates it from a KVM. Nevertheless, if there is a way to make it work like a KVM, I would love to know?

If there isn't a way, I was wondering if there were any programs available to trick Windows into thinking it's always connected to that 4k TV.

This is the switcher: https://www.amazon.com/Switch-ZANYA...1518620221&sr=8-5&keywords=smart+switch+4k+tv

Any ideas on this would be great!
 
KVM stands for Keyboard Video Mouse.

What you have is just the V

You can not add to your current box hardware that will make it compatible with K + M.

Either you buy an additional Box like this - https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-4-Port-Switch-Cable-TK-409K/dp/B000M5VXVS

Ignore the video and use it to switch K+M

Then press two buttons when you switch.

Or, if your computers are Networked, try software solution like this - https://www.raymond.cc/blog/how-to-share-keyboard-and-mouse-on-multiple-computers/


😎
 
Hey thank you for the reply.

I should have clarified what the problem was. I don't actually need the K + M. I'll use something like synergy or a regular KVM without the video hooked up to get the Keyboard and Mouse to switch PC's, like you've suggested.

The reason why I had said that I need it to act as a normal KVM (and I'm speaking of just the video portion of a normal KVM), is because those seem to retain the video signal to both PC's no matter which one you're currently displaying on the TV.

The problem with my 'switcher' is that when you click the button to change what PC is displaying on the TV, it is literally switching the video signal and causing the other PC to think that I have completely unplugged it from the TV, which intern reformats the positions of the displays everytime I want to switch what PC I'm displaying.
 
You need an EDID emulator for each connection. Basically a box that sits in between the source (PC) and the receiver input. Teach the box the EDID of the display you are using, and then it will pretend to be the TV even when the receiver switches inputs.

The problem you are going to run into is ones that will do 4K are not going to be cheap.

This device MIGHT work for you:

http://www.apantac.com/product-info.php?id=440

They're available from B&H:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1351398-REG/apantac_edid_ew_h_all_in_one_edid.html

If that doesn't work the more capable options are closer to $150-200 and you'll (again) need one for each input.

Viper GTS
 
Yeah, that is kind of on the expensive side. I'll probably just end up using the different HDMI ports that are already on the TV and use the controller to swap them.

Really appreciate your help! This is exactly the kind of device I was looking for and something I may utilize in the future!
 
As an update to this:

I actually ordered one of these to try to solve an issue I'm having with using my TV as a monitor. It does NOT do what you want.

I called their support line and was dumbfounded to actually get an intelligent support agent who walked me through how HDMI hotplug detection works. Basically there are two pins in HDMI that carry 5V to tell the source and display that the other is present. This device appears to pass them through with no modification and thus does not maintain the presence.

Viper GTS
 
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