Looking for 2 port PASS THROUGH synchronous kvm switch

[bpkdasbaum]

I already got an FJ Gear US-108
8 ports KVM switch USB synchronizer 8 ports synchronous controller
Official Website: http://www.fj-gear.com/US108/show/217.html
If you want to check it out, stay on chinese version and use google translate, the english website does not have any content/info
Basically identical with ShuOne 8 port Synchronouse KM switch (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NZSZFL8) (some different shortcuts)

It works okay, but I found there is a technical limit for key rollover when pressing 3 or more keys.

GOOD to OK: Corsair K70 RBG Rapidfire
Functions as normal keyboard & macros/profile can be saved to device if plugged in normally before.
No access to iCUE software when connected through KVM.

GOOD to OK: Mouse Logitech G700S
Functions as normal mouse & macros/profile can be saved to device if plugged in normally before (all additional 10 buttons work and send keyboard strokes)
No access to Logitech Gaming software when connected through KVM.

NOT WORKING:3 key rollover limit.
Meaning when you walk forward (1), strafe(2) and rightlick mouselook(3) at the same time, the mouse will sometimes lose focus due to signal updates of continuous mouse, but catches itself again.
When additionally pressing a spell button (4) the mouse will always lose focus.

It only bothers me on the master character, as he is the tank I am used to having full motion capabilities.
My main concern is to get full range of motion on the master.
My idea to get around this would be to get an additional 2port real PASS THROUGH synchronous switch only for the mouse. So that I can split the mouse and feed it into the PC, as well as into the 8port KVM. I assume that this way I would keep all smooth mouse functionality on my master PC/login, but still clone the mouse output for the slaves via the 8port KVM.

Something like this:

https://www.dual-boxing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2453&stc=1

Does anyone know about a 2 port KVM that is capable of real pass through of the original mouse signal and does not create a fake HID mouse?
Does anyone see technical issues with the plan?
Would the AIMOS 4 port be capable of that maybe?

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

[Wootenblatz]

I'm personally avoiding any KM Sync with VID/PID hiding. It increases compatibility problems and is the reason the logitech software cannot see the device. Late advice for you, I know.

Think you could record a video of what happens when the mouse loses focus?

I think some folks are running the 4 port AIMOS into the ShuOne for keyboard. I tried it with my mouse and it would only work when the AIMOS was on relative positioning mode. If your mouse cursor gets locked into a tiny space and cannot leave, that is two syncs fighting over absolute positioning mode.

If you do think about buying an AIMOS, I'd highly encourage you to order the 8 port and just wait on delivery. A dedicated sync for keyboard and another for the mouse is a very smooth setup. Having at least one sync that does not obscure VID/PID is very nice.

[nodoze]

I'm personally avoiding any KM Sync with VID/PID hiding. It increases compatibility problems and is the reason the logitech software cannot see the device. Late advice for you, I know.

Think you could record a video of what happens when the mouse loses focus?

I think some folks are running the 4 port AIMOS into the ShuOne for keyboard. I tried it with my mouse and it would only work when the AIMOS was on relative positioning mode. If your mouse cursor gets locked into a tiny space and cannot leave, that is two syncs fighting over absolute positioning mode.

If you do think about buying an AIMOS, I'd highly encourage you to order the 8 port and just wait on delivery. A dedicated sync for keyboard and another for the mouse is a very smooth setup. Having at least one sync that does not obscure VID/PID is very nice.Would 2 Amios 8 port switches be the most flexible & compatible setup?

[bpkdasbaum]

I'm personally avoiding any KM Sync with VID/PID hiding. It increases compatibility problems and is the reason the logitech software cannot see the device. Late advice for you, I know.

Think you could record a video of what happens when the mouse loses focus?

I think some folks are running the 4 port AIMOS into the ShuOne for keyboard. I tried it with my mouse and it would only work when the AIMOS was on relative positioning mode. If your mouse cursor gets locked into a tiny space and cannot leave, that is two syncs fighting over absolute positioning mode.

If you do think about buying an AIMOS, I'd highly encourage you to order the 8 port and just wait on delivery. A dedicated sync for keyboard and another for the mouse is a very smooth setup. Having at least one sync that does not obscure VID/PID is very nice.

Didn't realize it at the time and didn't know about VID/PID, learned about it when it arrived, didn't pay any attention to that feature as it's useless for me. Good advise nonetheless, thanks for clearing that up.

My FJ Gear KVM, has a switch for relative and absolute mouse mode. Mouse only works properly in Relative Mode. So i have that on all the time. I really think it's a roll over limit. Dunno might be wrong, don't know shit about underlying tech ^^; came to the conclusion after trying out several ways to hit keys in different orders.

Will make some videos soon.

[bpkdasbaum]

@ Wootenblatz

Is it already confirmed by someone that Aimos KVM is indeed full pass through?

[bpkdasbaum]

The Dream

The dream hardware solution would be a KVM switch with the following features (basically emulating hotkeynet features)

- 5-10 port (5 man teams seem to be the most played)
- support 6+ rollover keys
- real USB emulation / pass through
- synchronous mode / synchronizer / sync mode (keys are sent to all selected outputs)
- individual buttons to turn on off outputs (sometime you want to only control 3 of your 5 clients)
- master sync mode button
- option to disable enable mouse clicks (on slaves only)
- option to disable specific keyboard keys on selected output (to deactivate WASD on slaves for example)- borderless mouse option



Google Search

I searched google for multiple hours with various keywords and looked read through any promising website on this topic.

From what I found it looks bleak ¬_¬

Hardeware Synchronizer KVM seem to be a rather niche use case. Even most enterprise solutions (https://www.kvmgalore.com/) that cost 500-2000 USD are designed to be switches or borderless mouse solutions. None of them have synchronous mode (multibroadcasting)

Example Adder Command & Control Switch, 4 Port USB and Audio KM Switch (https://www.kvm-switches-online.com/ccs-pro4-us.html)


Instant switching with True USB Emulation

Adder's True USB Emulation technology overcomes limitations of other KVM switches by emulating the true character of the connected devices to all the computers simultaneously. This means that you can use the extra function keys, wheels, buttons and controls, without sacrificing switching times.


The cheap Aimos / FjGear / ShuOne Synchronizer KVMs for 20-40 USD and alike seem to be the only thing on the market that gets close to the dream for hardware multiboxing.

I did find some enterprise solutions that support USB pass through / USB emulation. Meaning the original Keyboard/Mouse signal is forwarded/switched without interruption to all connected output machines (https://www.blackbox.co.uk/gb-gb/page/41698/Solutions/By-Technology/KVM-Switching-And-Extension/Multi-Monitor-KM-Switches). But those cost 1200 USD and don't have synchronous mode.

Discription of different USB Emulation Technologies: http://www.blackbox.co.uk/_AppData/LocalizedContent/UK/DOCUMENTS/Whitepapers/USB_True_Emulation.pdf


Arduino / Raspberry Pi

I also looked into creating a KVM from programmable chips.

Turns out hackers already did this with success, but the problem is that those are limited to HID Keyboard/Mouse and I couldn't find any with sync mode, only switches:

https://github.com/nathalis/Arduino-K-Switch
https://hackaday.com/2020/04/19/kvm-uses-many-arduinos
https://hackaday.io/project/6464-arduino-kvm-switch
https://hackaday.com/tag/kvm/
https://reposhub.com/python/programming-with-hardware/pikvm-pikvm.html

(https://reposhub.com/python/programming-with-hardware/pikvm-pikvm.html)
Where to go from here?

The best/cheapest/available solution so far seems to be 2 cheap synchronizer KVMs.
One for the mouse one for keyboard to combat the roll over and port selection limitations.To run a 5 man team, you can get by with 2x 4 port KVMs for 20 USD each, so 40 USD total.

Unless someone comes up with a solution to make USB emulation / pass through work in Arduino or a KVM enterprise decides to implement those features we are stuck with that option.

[Moorea]

> but the problem is that those are limited to HID Keyboard/Mouse and I couldn't find any with sync mode, only switches

A sync just means sending the same key on multiple ports. so it's just a matter of changing the software a bit.

One issue is raspberry pi only has one OTG port in the (default) board for instance