Belkin 4port Omniview USB KVM Switch

Average customer rating: 2.5

Quite unhappy with switching performance; not recommended
It works ... barely!!
Super Rip-Off!
Just a warning from an experience with the DVI version
If you're patient, it will kind of work

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Belkin 4port Omniview USB KVM Switch

Manufacturer: Belkin Components
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B00006BBB5

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Product Description

The OmniView SOHO Series USB KVM Switch with Audio from Belkin allows you to control up to four USB computers from one USB console. The innovative design provides built-in cable management and saves space while adding a whole new sculpted look to your desktop. Once the shroud slides into place, the cables conveniently flow through the back opening. The Belkin SOHO Series USB KVM Switch offers advanced engineering, such as audio and microphone support, that enables you to switch between speakers and microphones without having to re-connect. To ensure compatibility with the latest computers and devices, a flash upgrade feature allows users to update firmware when necessary. Used with coaxial VGA cabling, the switch supports video resolution of up to 2048x1536@85Hz through a 400MHz video bandwidth, delivering the highest resolution possible without compromising display quality.

Customer Reviews:

Quite unhappy with switching performance; not recommended.......2006-08-26

Although I have read the reviews written here a priori, I bought the item as I was in desperate need of a 4-port USB KVM in my house, and Omniview looked cute and compact for that purpose. But then I started experiencing most of the problems stated in the reviews. Duh!

- I feel extremely anxious when switching from one computer to another, since most of the time the mouse simply does not function in target computer! This is extremely discomforting and I have to reboot that machine to get it working (I tried switching back and forth at no avail).

- Time to time, while using the keyboard, the last key sticks as if you keep pushing it. One time I was cleaning up my inbox, deleting the unwanted emails. And then all of a sudden the 'DEL' key got stuck and it flushed the whole inbox! Gee, I had to scour through my Deleted Items folder to recover them back...

- No cables included! I had to buy all the cables myself. What a waste of money...

I am giving the two stars for the pleasing looks and design. Functionality-wise it is worse than unsatisfactory. I don't recommend you buying this product now that there are better alternatives I believe. I had a very satisfying experience with Iogear 2 Port Compact USB KVM Switch (GCS632U) earlier.

It works ... barely!!.......2005-03-20

This produce is in desperate need of firmware updates.

First off, when you go to update you have to first run an early update that allows your computer to run the updates. Which isnt documented well.

Second, and BIGGEST!! I am running a microsoft wireless keyboard / mouse combo. Which only has 1 USB! Which you have to plug into the mouse port to make it work. If you plug it into the keyboard port then your mouse wont work. Now the problem is, if oyur keyboard ISNT in the keyboard port then you cant do the hot switching.

So ... basically for what i want it is annoying. I can have my wireless keyboard mouse ... but now i have to go to the kvm (which doesnt sit close to me) to switch computers.

Grrr .... i think what annoys me the most is you'd THINK this would be an easy firmware upgarade

Super Rip-Off!.......2004-12-03

I'm evaluating the DVI version. The cables are sold seperately, so what's the point to buy a KVM without cables?!? This is just way to costly compared to other KVMs out there. I'm in agreement with another reviewer, let's wait until there's more mature DVI versions out there.

Lastly, hearing the problems doesn't surprise me, as working with the two port version, I had some problems where computers becames unresponsive.

Just a warning from an experience with the DVI version.......2004-07-04

I'm extremely unhappy with the Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4-Port KVM DVI Switch with Audio. I'm sure most of this applies for the VGA version

1) It is nearly impossible to connect a cable to the console DVI Connector. Belkin had to overnight a special extender to connect the monitor DVI cable to the KVM.
2) Connecting the Power Adapter to the KVM blocks one of the peripheral USB ports.
3) It's absolutely impossible to put on the cover (i.e. cable management cover) if you connect the four (Belkin) cables to it.
4) Connecting only two PCs with a resolution of 1600x1200 to the KVM resulted in green shadows for one connection. (both NVidia cards GeForce 4 (4200 series) and a Geforce 5 (5200 series)
5) The Microsoft Wireless Keyboard doesn't work as stated in the manual. I did manage to plug in the wireless dongle connector to the USB mouse port on the KVM but now I can't use the hotkeys to switch between computers. Belkin has also indicated that wireless keyboards don't always work as stated in the manual

6) There isn't a FAQ or software/firmware upgrade listed for this device. I would recommend checking out the belkin support pages or lack there of.

If you're patient, it will kind of work.......2004-06-16

This is my review for the Belkin 4-port USB/Audio/VGA KVM. I share with you the following experiences and tips.

First, you can't NOT plug in a USB keyboard without the unit beeping incessantly. However, if you have a wireless keyboard/mouse combo that has a single USB dongle on the receiver, you have to plug it into the mouse USB port on the KVM to use the both the wireless mouse AND keyboard. Which causes the no keyboard beep. Which will drive you nuts.

I spent approx. 2 hours trying to update the firmware to a NO KEYBOARD BEEP revision available from Belkin. It requires enabling a parallel port in your BIOS, making sure to set the BIOS port to NORMAL as opposed to ECP, EPP, BI-DIRECTIONAL, etc. This is NOT documented, from what I could tell.

Additionally, Belkin recommends running a firmware driver fix for Win2K and WinXP machines prior to the firmware flash, as the firmware updater won't recognize the parallel port properly without the driver update. A friend also noted that you should to run the updater in compatibility mode (Win98) in WinXP and Win2K.

The firmware update took about 5-10 minutes. After the update, you're asked to disconnect ALL cables from the unit to get it to reset. ALL CABLES MUST BE REMOVED -- POWER INCLUDED. Be prepared for it to beep again when it resets. I honestly thought the firmware flash had not worked when I heard it.

I read online that this KVM DOES NOT WORK WITH DOCKING STATIONS, which is why I bought the unit for use with my desktop and a Dell laptop/port replicator. Thankfully, it DID WORK, and I was able to switch from desktop to laptop/docking station without too much trouble.

Sometimes, when the USB is switching, the computer that I'm going to can't reinitialize the USB device and WinXP throws a minor error. I just go back and forth for a second to get it to re-initialize. Try switching to an empty KVM channel if you need to.

I'm wary of using the KVM's built in USB hub (2-port) because of this USB switching issue. I had planned on connecting a USB hard drive between the two computers, but I'm concerned that I would (a) lose data or (b) damage the hard drive switching back and forth between the two computers, particularly if USB switching doesn't always work.

So far, I've used it while playing hi-res games on my desktop which hasn't caused additional problems like video or USB bandwidth issues. Good luck with your purchase.

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