Programmable KB and PS/2 --> USB adapter (Will I retain my programmed/hot keys?)

[MichaelD]

*EDIT 3 OCT*

I just wanted to report back that I purchased the IOGEAR GCS1782 (linked below) and it works like a charm! I am sharing a 2.1 audio system, a wireless KB/MS combo and a monitor with a built-in USB hub/card reader b/t two systems...all at 1920x1200 x 32. And it doesn't look/feel any different than using it all straight to the PC. :beer: I did have to adjust the gains on my subwoofer and monitor amp, but who cares!

Interestingly (embarassingly) enough, I didn't have to spend the money on an expensive "active" PS/2 to USB adapter. The KVM came with a simple, passive KB and MS PS/2-->USB adapter. Yeah. And I didn't need that either.

It didn't all work right off the bat though. I hooked up the KVM to the two PCs using the simple PS/2-->USB adapter and turned it all on. There was no mouse and none of the KB's special function keys worked. Darn.

So I'm thinking I need to use the special, $25 active (some kind of box in the middle of the cable) PS/2-->USB adapter. I unplug the cheap adapter from the KVM and hear the PC make the "ding-dong" sound of Windows recognizing a USB device. HUH?

I look at the monitor and see that Windows found the card reader....and the mouse.

Turns out that all that needs to be connected to the KVM is the single USB cable coming from the KB/MS wireless receiver. Don't even need the KB PS/2 connector from the wireless receiver to be connected. This makes no sense to me, but it all works! Both PCs have the Microsoft wireless KB/MS software on them. Works like a charm. I even have different mouse sensitivities set up for each PC.

The KVM wasn't cheap ($210 w/o shipping) but damn if it's not worth it. The cable bundle it comes with is impressive. It does 7.1 audio sharing, which I have no use for. It even has a front panel USB jack for memory sticks or whatever. The main KVM cables have the monitor, USB and two separate, two channel audio wires all within the one cable. So, there's only "one cable" hooked up per PC.

I'm very impressed with this thing!

Thanks to all who helped out with this thread. Just wanted to let you all know that this story ended happily. Have a great weekend. :beer:

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Let me explain the situation in more detail. I currently have a wireless programmable KB/MS combo. The wireless receiver has a PS/2 output for the KB and USB for the mouse.

Both the KB and MS require software to be loaded in order to have the hot button/key functions. So far so good, right?

I want to use a USB KVM to control two different boxes. The KVM only has USB inputs for both KB and MS. IOGEAR 1782 KVM

If I use a PS/2-->USB adapter like this for the KB, will I still have use of my hotkeys/programmed keys? (Assuming I load the software on both boxes of course).

Thanks.

 

[Zepper]

Generally you will lose any special key functions with them on the other side of a KVM. The special drivers for your kb/mse combo won't even recognize that the combo is present. There may be a new KVM out there designed for gamers, etc. but most are made for server room/hardware repair services where special keys are not needed.
. There is a piece of software out there that sort of acts like a KVM (control another machine from the kbd/mse attached to the local computer) which may be able to do that for you, but I'm not sure that it will pass on the special key codes either and I've forgotten what the name of it is. Check on http://www.majorgeeks.com as they carry most useful freeware/shareware utility software - perhaps in the Admin Tools section. I found it - it's called Synergy and it was in Admin Tools at MG and it's also available from SourceForge.net... But Synergy is only a KM - they say that they expect that the V part will be supported soon. Someone has worked out a KVM patch for VNC (a remote admin tool) and there are others listed in my Web search on- software KVM -good luck. Perhaps it will work with Ultr@VNC too which is perhaps the best branch off of the original. Or perhaps you could use Synergy plus a simple KVM just to switch the video, but it would have to be self-powered. Lots of KVMs are powered off the USB or PS/2 ports of the main computer and wouldn't switch with just monitors attached.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks very much, Zepper. It wouldn't completely kill me to not have the special function keys...not on the KB anyway. But I do like my "page back/page forward" side click buttons and scroll wheel on my mouse.

Even though I probably won't get an answer, I think I'll email Iogear and ask them. The model I'm looking at (linked to in OP) is pretty fancy...built in USB hub, 7.1 audio sharing, etc. It would suck to buy the thing and then not have it work. I'll email them.

Thanks again.

*edit*
Well this just stinks. I went looking on Newegg for the USB-->PS/2 adapter. Found it, but also found reviews. Check out the second review.

Cons: 1) Does not work for complicated setups involving KVM (keyboard, video, monitor) switches such as IOGEAR PS/2 KVM

Crap.

 

[Zepper]

I just looked at your linked page and it says that mouse emulation can be disabled so the special mouse button functions will work. It'll be good to check though.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

I'm a little confused. Can you explain "mouse emulation" to me? Why would I want the KVM to emulate a mouse...if i already have one plugged in?

It sure would be nice if everything worked! Though my KB/MS are old and need to be replaced, I'm very used to them and I'm really picky about my input devices.

 

[Zepper]

On most KVMs, the inputs aren't simply switched to the target machine, they are emulated, so the non-target machine still thinks it has a mouse and kbd attached - the in signals are sent to the emulator and regenerated from the target machines emulator so the output signals can only be what the emulators have available in their ROMs (basically standard 2-button mouse or 101-key keyboard outputs). That's why any special key codes and mouse signals are dropped as they aren't available in the ROM and why gaming thru a KVM is often too laggy. If you look in Dev. Mgr. after booting with the KVM attached, you'll see that the mouse and kbd has changed to a standard kbd and mouse rather than whatever special devices were there before. Shut down and hook the special kbd and mse back up and they will be redetected and the special drivers put back in place. The ROMs in the KVMs can't have all the codes for all the different mice and kbds in them, so they just have the basics.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

Excellently detailed explanation, Zep. Thanks much!

So, if emulation makes the non-target boxes think they still have a KB/MS attached, will shutting off emulation make the non-target boxes think they have no KB/MS? Won't that screw them up? I.E. when I switch boxes I won't have a KB/MS?

Wait...that's only with PS/2 mice/kbs, right? I'll be running USB into them so it should be OK, right?

 

[MichaelD]

I received an answer from IOGEAR. Not even 24 hours later; nice customer service! Here's what they said:

The GCS1782 works with most extra keys on keyboards and mice. I would
expect no problem with your programmable keys, but can't guarantee
anything in terms of compatibility with third party software. If there
is a problem we'll do our best to fix it in a firmware upgrade.

So that's pretty good news! Looks like the GCS1782 would be a good buy.

 

[Zepper]

Well, I haven't seen that in a KVM before. Let us know if it really works as they say.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

I ordered it today. It will take awhile to get here. Will update thread when it's up and running.

 

[MichaelD]

BUMP for a happy ending. See OP up top.