Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch with Audio Support and Built-In Cabling (USB, F1DL102U)

Amazon Customer Reviews

(1 out of 5)

Not up to Belkin standards

OK, I own many Belkin products. Up until now, they have not let me down. I would recommend just about anything made by Belkin. Anything but a KVM switch, that is.

Does it work? Yes, but it has some MAJOR drawbacks:

1) Not compatible with all USB keyboards

2) Locks up occasionally, requiring you to disconnect it from all computers

3) Periodically switches your monitor off (standby) for no apparent reason

4) Causes degradation of video signal

For one, the only way you will know is to try it with your USB keyboard. But at about fifty bucks a pop for this KVM, that's an expensive experiment.

For two, this is supposed to be a KVM switch. If you need to disconnect it and reconnect it periodically, what's the point of even having a KVM switch?

For three . . . don't know what to say on this one except that it's very annoying.

Also, the picture displayed on my NEC LCD1760V 17" LCD monitor is distorted when using this KVM. It's not terribly distorted (so I know all the hardware is working AS DESIGNED), but it is noticeably distorted. Basically, if you pass video through this Belkin KVM switch, the video is darker and blurry. Bright white colors take on a slightly gray tinge and text is harder to read than it should be. It's almost like this KVM causes your monitor to lose some contrast. Yes, all cables are properly and FIRMLY connected. This isn't a hardware problem or a connection problem, it is a design problem. I suspect the cables used on this KVM are inferior quality, which is possibly what is causing the video degradation.

I think this one is a waste of money. Normally, Belkin makes great products, so I was REALLY disappointed with this KVM.

(2 out of 5)

stay away - USB 1.1

This is an improvement over my last KVM, which would only merit one star. This KVM gets a second star because it provides good video quality at 1280x1024 and has a hardware as well as a software switch mechanism.

It has two USB ports. Don't be deceived by the labeling that says one port is for the mouse and one is for the keyboard. You can plug any USB device into either - including a USB hub. USB is USB.

Actually there are two different kinds of USB. There is the older and much slower USB 1.1 vs. the now ubiquitous USB 2.0. However, they are entirley compatible. You just lose significant performance if you plug a 2.0 device into a 1.1 port.

My biggest complaint is that you will naturally want to connect a USB hub to the KVM to share more than just slow devices like a mouse and keyboard. For example, a digital camera, MP3 player, external hard drive, cell phone, printer, scanner, etc. Then you will discover that these devices now run SOOO SLOOOW. The problem is that this device is USB 1.1 instead of the ubiquitous USB 2.0 that you would assume it is, and you must ASSUME because nowhere on their package, booklet, disk, or web site do they mention this critical flaw.

Another short sighted feature is that the USB and audio cables are too short where they split off at each end. If I plug in the USB cable on my laptop, the audio cable needs about six more inches to reach the audio port - and laptops aren't exactly big.

Another problem with laptops is that if yours even starts to go into standy mode, this KVM will no longer recognize it until you reboot it.

If you can be certain that you will NEVER want to share a USB 2.0 device, which is astronomically unlikely, then this is a good KVM.

(1 out of 5)

Typical Belkin Junk

I wasted a couple hours of life on this JUNK.

Decides for itself when you want to change inputs.

If you push the button, 50% of time it fails to correctly hold new signal after user button press, swapping you back to other machine. The other half of the time it never finds the new signal and swaps you back to the first machine.

(1 out of 5)

Didn't detect my keyboard - no use

I tried to use this switch with two Windows machines, one ME and one XP. I just needed the keyboard & mouse switch, as the display took care of itself (one machine had VGA and the other DVI). I had a Dell keyboard and a Logitech mouse. The mouse worked fine right away, but not the keyboard. Basically, both machines said that they're detecting "an unknown USB device" and there was no way to use the keyboard thru the switch, with any of them.
I e-mailed Belkin and their response was as follows:
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KVMs will work best when there is a standard PS/2 or USB mouse and keyboard attached to the console. Ensure that a standard keyboard and mouse is attached to the console (not a Logitech, multimedia or wireless type) and that Standard drivers or HID drivers are in use at the workstations. Reseat all connections again and swap ports if necessary.
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So, a logitech mouse is not "standard" enough for them? Or a 3-year Dell keyboard? And where on the box does it say that this product only works with some, unspecified devices?!
BTW, I also noticed that the switch itself is "sticky" -- it took several seconds of nervous clicking before it moved from one computer to the other.
But anyway, I'm returning this useless gizmo to the store. A waste of time.

(5 out of 5)

Great product, does what its supposed to do.

I'll disagree with the majority on this product. The KVM switch works as expected - have it connected to a Dell Latitude laptop, and a custom built PC. There is no video degradation, the USB info from the keyboard (Logitech LX700 cordless) is passed through the switch so both computers recognize it (if you try to use a PS/2 KVM switch with a USB keyboard, using an adaptor, it will NOT work - the USB info is not passed through and the computer will just see it as a standard keyboard). Also, I've figured out that if you hit the Scroll-Lock key on the keyboard 4 times in a row quickly, this causes it to switch from one computer to the other (which is basically the same way the IO-Gear kvm switch works).
The KVM switch has never frozen on me - it works just as intended. AS for other peoples problems, first if you are using a USB hub, that can cause problems with a USB kvm switch. The switch is powered by the USB port. Also, there is a delay in switching back and forth between computers, which SHOULD BE EXPECTED - afterall its the same as if you are unplugging and plugging back in a USB device - it takes the computer a few seconds to recognize the device again. And someone wrote about it not working well for other USB devices, because its only USB 1.1. Yeah, the instructions even state that its meant to only be used with keyboard/mouse. Its not intended to be a switched USB hub. As for video degradation someone reported, the cables are quite long - 6 feet. So maybe a new video card is needed with a stronger signal output. Total length between computer and monitor is now about 12 feet (monitor cable, plus kvm cable).
I've used it on both a Samsung SyncMaster 914v and Samsung SyncMaster 930b (analog input), no problems.