usb switchbox

[TheShiz]

is there a device that can hold a usb connection to multiple computers, then allow switching between the actual device hooked into it? i've seen plenty of usb switchboxes, I have a crappy one, it works but is annoying because when I switch from one computer to another (usb keyboard in this case) it has to reestablish the usb connection for the device which takes a while.

I guess there could be two solutions. a keyboard with 2 usb outputs that lets you select which is active (well they are both active but which one will actually transmit keypresses at a given moment)

or a device that does this, it holds the connection to both pcs, but only passes through the key presses for the current selection.

basically, i want instant usb switching between two computers from one device, it it possible? I submit to the infinite anandtech forum community knowledge.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I'm not sure exactly what occurs when a computer detects a USB device, but I'd guess the delay is more software related than hardware.

What you probably need is something that keeps a constant electrical connection to both computers, but allows you to "soft-disable" the keyboard on one computer or the other, sort of like how you can use software to mute the audio output without actually removing the connection to the sound coming out of the PC.

 

[TheShiz]

exactly, i tried synergy but that doesn't really work for me. i want to be able to run a game on one pc and surf the net on another one. i have 2 separate mice, which i think is fine, but would really like to be able to switch the keyboard from one pc to the other instantly instead of having 2 keyboards, ideally either through a keyboard command or through an external switch. it wouldn't really work if I have to click on something to switch over.

i think there are kvms out there that hold the usb connection and can instantly switch, but they are expensive. i'm actually surprised no one has come up with a cheap solution because I would think any usb kvm should have this feature, i'm sure it annoys lot of people having to wait for windows to enable the keyboard and mouse every time you switch. i think the old ps2 kvms were instant, makes me think that might be a better route, but I like my USB keyboard.

 

[Modelworks]

It is not going to be a cheap device. The reason is because how USB works. Any device connected with USB is in constant communication with the host. Every .1 seconds or so the host sends the address for the device, then waits for the device to respond, "yes I am here", it checks for new data from the device, then the host moves on to the next device.

If the device does not respond to the host when it sends the address, the host waits for about 2 seconds then disconnects the device. To have a instant USB switch , the switch would need to emulate the address response to whatever is plugged into it. That would require a microcontroller inside the switch with multiple usb ports and some tricky coding to make it all work. Not cheap to do.

 

[TheShiz]

thanks Modelworks, now I'm just wondering where these things are, I know there are some kvm switches that do this, but I can't seem to find them anywhere.

 

[TheShiz]

i would still like to find something like this if it exists. a keyboard with two usb plugs and a switch on the actual keyboard would be the ultimate ideal. there has to be some sort of solution.