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Show HN: TinyPilot – Build a KVM over IP using a Raspberry Pi

(mtlynch.io)
756 points mtlynch | 3 comments | 23 Jul 20 13:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.632s | source
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dukoid ◴[23 Jul 20 15:27 UTC] No.23928345[source]▶
I have given up on KVMs altogether and I am using the following approach now:

- Most monitors have multiple digital inputs. Connect each computer to one of them

- Use a USB switch keyboard and mouse

- Before switching the USB switch, press the "lock screen" key combination and make sure locking the screen drops the video signal

- After switching the USB switch, pressing shift should bring up the login dialog and re-activate video output. Since the monitor has just lost the signal in the previous step, it will scan the inputs and switch to the desired signal.

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_1qd4 ◴[23 Jul 20 15:32 UTC] No.23928396[source]▶
I did this for a while, the problem is that there's really no such thing as a high-quality USB switch. They are all garbage and mess with USB devices in some way (at least at the consumer level).
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btgeekboy ◴[23 Jul 20 15:48 UTC] No.23928587[source]▶
I have an old Belkin USB 2.0 switch from god-knows when that works beautifully. I use it to share a hub with a keyboard and mouse attached. I’ve given up trying to find a 4K60 x2 DisplayPort KVM that doesn’t suck.
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1. stamps ◴[23 Jul 20 16:36 UTC] No.23929161[source]▶
I have this one[0] that works great.

Wendell at Level1Techs does good work and there's even newer ones that can do 8k30.

[0] https://store.level1techs.com/products/kvm-switch-dual-monit...

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2. ajford ◴[23 Jul 20 19:17 UTC] No.23931156[source]▶
I couldn't find the details on their site, but do you know whether the 3.5mm audio jack is 3 or 4 pole? I've found that most KVMs have the 3 pole jack, meaning it just supports audio out, but I need 4-pole so my headset microphone works.
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3. lathiat ◴[24 Jul 20 11:18 UTC] No.23938114[source]▶
You can get USB audio dongles that have that. Which could then switch on the KVM instead.