Dell Keyboards and Belkin Omniview SOHO USB

Question

Hi all. I recently purchased a Belkin Omniview SOHO USB KVM switch to connect my two Dell and two Apple computers to a USB Dell keyboard, a Microsoft Intellimouse, and a Dell monitor. Here's a description of the problems I've been having since switching from the PS/2 KVM I had previously:   * the num lock, caps lock and scroll lock lights are out of sync with the key-presses. If you press the num lock, the scroll lock light toggles, if you press the caps lock the num lock light toggles, etc. This is not completely consistent, but does happen and is annoying. * the keyboard has a habit of losing keypresses when typing, and has had repeated occurances of locking a key, so that it self repeat-types. * if you use the Belkin key sequence to shift between ports (scroll-lock + scroll-lock + 1-or-2), it'll work once or twice, then completely freak out the keyboard or KVM, and the KVM will repeat-beep until you power down both ports, and start over again.   * The ctrl key activates the port-shifting behavior, which I discovered from a Belkin tech should not happen, and I can't find it documented anywhere.   The only suggestion Belkin tech support had when I called was that I try another keyboard. I purchased another Dell keyboard (the first one I tried had no hotkeys and ships with our GX280s - the second one had hotkeys, and I just purchased it from the software and peripherals site) but the thing is exhibiting the same behavior.   If I remove the KVM from the mix, everything is fine. Anyone else having trouble like this? Any suggestions, other than trying a keyboard from kensington, or something to that effect?   Thanks for your time, Kevin

xxtimmitxx · Answer

My boss had the same problem, he ended up adding ps2 ports to his gx280 because it was driving him crazy.  tim

speedstep · Answer

Try Attaching powered USB hubs to the ports where you attach the machines.

Then what happens?

Many Dells do not have 500ma power on each port.

Many many many have 100ma max which is out of spec for USB.

kbailey · Answer

Thanks. I eventually gave up on Belkin and switched to an Iogear KVM switch - it worked flawlessly out of the box and I've now replaced all KVM switches in our office with Iogear boxes.   Happy to put the nasty experience with Belkin behind me.

xxtimmitxx · Answer

Great I'll order one right now, is this the same one you purchased? http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=232441

kbailey · Answer

Greetings. I purchased one of these for our network admin: http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GCS1758   And two of these for our support staff: http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GCS1734   We're very happy with both products.

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