Does the USB-844-BC "MegaCast" work with USB mouse/trackaball ?

[Ziran]

Any one know ?

Does the new vetra 4 port USB multicaster:

http://www.vetra.com/844Utext.html

work with regular usb mice/trackballs (nothing fancy just regular 4 buttons).

I know the PS2 multi caster definitely did not work with PS2 mice just keyboards

I have 4 wireless trackballs but I prefer the designs of wired ones and would rather use a wired trackball with multicaster then the wireless solution.

Ziran

[Wilbur]

Your best bet will be to email the support staff at Vetra, they are very helpful and have a list of most compatible hardware.

I think as long as its just *one* device, it'll be fine.
its devices like the G15 (which is actually more than one) that cause it problems.

[Ziran]

Ok it looks like it will work. I am going to order one and hook it up to a logitech marble mouse (trackball). I have the wireless trackballs for now but the wireless has downsides I would rather avoid. Will post how it goes.

Here is the reply I got:


The USB-844-BC will work with either as a USB keyboard broadcaster or a USB mouse broadcaster but not both at the same time. The unit has been tested with a Microsoft Trackball Optical 4 button mouse. It should work with the unit you want to use. Be advised that we do not have all the latest USB mouse and trackball units out on the market today to test with. If the unit does not work we will gladly take it back minus any shipping costs.

George Zahn
Vetra Systems Corporation
KVM Products That Work.
We will gladly customize our products to meet your exact needs!
Tel#: 1-800-537-9296 or 631-434-3185
----- Original Message ----- From: "Krzysztof Dydak" <kdydak@austin.rr.com>
To: <support@vetra.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 5:49 AM
Subject: Does the USB-844-BC MegaCast work with USB trackballs/mice


> I know the PS2 versions did not work with PS2 mice (only keyboards). Does the new
> USB multicaster work with USB trackballs/mice. I am talking about simple 4 button devices
> like this:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104108&Tpk=marble%2bmouse
>

[Nisch]

I tested this last night and the USB Vetra model does broadcast the USB mouse quite well. I actually don't like the USB model due to the odd way it works compared to the PS2. After I got an email from Vetra, they said "yeah, if one computer goes weird, it will kill the keyboard on all the computers" They also said the PS2 model will not do this. So I'll use my USB multicaster for a mouse and once my 8 port PS2 unit comes, I'll hook up my XKeys and HH Lite keyboard, and hopefully it will be much smoother.

[Ziran]

Yup my unit arrived today and it works just fine with my USB trackball. None of the battery-saving lag you get with the wireless unit. I have my XKeys multiplexed via the PS2 (8 way vetra broadcaster) and that works just fine too. No weird problems.

Ziran

[Ziran]

Ok I just noticed one oddity. The vetra USB multicaster will convert button4/5 presses to middle mouse click. Buttons 1/2 (left right) work just fine. I do not have button3 (middle button) but I do have two extra buttons 4/5.

In my case it is actually useful since I can map buttons 4/5 to jump/mez for individual use and map the button3 to nuke (so I can quickly have all members nuke an add). It is something you need to be aware of though.

Ziran

[Wilbur]

Are you sure its not just because you haven't got the drivers for that mouse installed on the secondary PC?

[Ziran]

The trackball uses standard windows built in drivers. I have an individual one for each computer (5) and one multicast to computers 2-5. The multicast one will convert clicks on either button 4-5 as clicks on physically non-existant button3. In my case it happens to be useful but it is odd. I used to use wireless trackball(s) before and that had all the buttons functioning normally (also windows drivers).

Ziran