IOGEAR GCS1804 4 Port KVMP Switch with USB 2.0 Hub and Audio

Pros: This is my 5th kvm. It worked like a charm right out of the box. I did take their advice and read the manual before I connected. Because of previous experiences with kvms, I've pretty much resigned to wired mice and keyboards. I'm not a gamer, so my needs in this area are easily met. I'm running 4 different motherboards with 4 different OS's and it works great.

Cons: None so far!

Pros: None to speak of. I revise my earlier review from 2 stars to 1 star.

Up until now I have been using a Iogear kvm, but this one isn't functional for basic needs. It also looses display connectivity and can't be reestablished, but that is a whole other issue that is minor compared to my other issues.

Cons: Iogear replied to my original review that I made here yesterday. But the response that they emailed me is much different that what was posted here. Basically it says that it doesn't support basis functions of programmable keyboards. In addition the usb hub ports indicate that the luminated keyboard requires too much power and so it refuses to support it.
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Email response from Iogear that was mailed to me today:
In order for hot key operation and instantaneous recognition of the keyboard and mouse when switching computers, our KVMs emulate a standard wired 102 key keyboard and wired generic 2-button scroll wheel mouse. We can not guarantee the use of wireless (including Bluetooth), multifunction, gaming, integrated card readers, or programmable keyboards and mice. This KVM also requires a mouse and keyboard be connected to their respective console ports, so we cannot guarantee the use of docking stations, port replicators or USB / PS2 adapters.

Other Thoughts: Some Logitech nano cordless mice will work with this unit while others will not be recognized. I think that Logitech nano mice that are advertised as Windows 7 are not recognized. The kvm is firmware upgradeable but no updates have been released since early 2009. I need to find another solution that has product development support.

Pros: The fact that it has audio capabilities and usb support is a plus.

Cons: Windows 7 will not recognize the Microsoft Sidewinder x4 keyboard. I just called the support line today, and was told that the design team will be notified. Not sure what that means. Will update after I get a response from the design team.

Even thought this product has the capability of firmware updates, none have ever been released for this product. So I am not optimistic about getting a resolution on this problem. Will update once I get a response from the design team.

Manufacturer Response:

Thank you for choosing IOGEAR and sorry about your experience. You are correct that any keyboard with extra features and drivers required will not be recognized if you connect it to the console keyboard port of the KVM. It will be recognized as a standard keyboard only which is due to the Keyboard emulation in the KVM. If you wish to use the full feature of your keyboard, you could connect it to the USB 2.0 peripheral sharing port and it will be fully functional as if it’s connected directly to the computer. However, since you are not using the console keyboard port for your keyboard, you will use all the hotkey command. If you have any further question, please feel free to contact our tech support at 1(866)946-4327 and we would be glad to assist you. Once again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.

Pros: I haven't given up, but haven't had time to really work on it.

Cons: It messes up the video coming from both desktops. The XP desktop loses the mouse and keyboard at times.

Other Thoughts: These are Windows 7 and a Windows XP desktops. They worked with a different KVMP that I replaced because it was PS2.

Manufacturer Response:

Thank you for choosing IOGEAR and sorry about your experience. As for the video concern that you have, you can try to trigger the hotkey [Scroll Lock][Scroll Lock][D] to let the KVM recapture and store the DDC information. That should be able to resolve your problem. As for the USB keyboard and mouse, there will be chances that the OS cannot load the USB HID driver correctly, but that can simply be fixed by a restart. However, if it happens really often, there might be something wrong with your unit. Since this unit is backed by IOGEAR’s 3 year warranty, please feel free to contact our tech support at 1(866)946-4327 and we would be glad to assist you. Once again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.

Pros: They finally replaced the unit! I will give them back two eggs for replacing a bad unit. They still loose two eggs for the amount of effort it took to get them to react.

Cons: It took numerous e-mails and phone calls and two posts on this forum from an irate customer (me), but they did eventually replace the defective unit. This process has taken over two months to complete, so this is not good customer relations on their part.

Other Thoughts: Someone finally took charge and solved my problem by sending me a new unit. However, there is still the idiot that sent my broken KVM back with no repairs. This after I explained to them several times that the problem was intermittent (I guess they did not understand what that meant).

Pros: None

Cons: This is a follow up to my first post. As the MFG suggested, I sent my failing unit back to the factory. The RMA department could not find anything wrong with it so they SENT ME THE SAME UNIT BACK WITH NO REPAIRS!!! A normal repair facility would have at least sent me a reconditioned unit while they continued to study the intermittent one, but not this bunch. Unbelievable! DO NOT BUY THIS UNIT! I am not the first person to report intermittent problems with the keyboard and mouse USB ports. An now it is obvious the factory doesn't have a clue as to how to fix the problem so they just sent it back to the customer!

Other Thoughts: I had always thought IOGear was a responsible manufacturer. But this is one action I cannot believe.

Pros: Small Compact with front panel switching and keyboard switching.

Cons: The front panel switches do not have a lot of tactile feel, but do work. About 3 or 4 months after I purchased this device it started exhibiting intermittent failures. The kbd and mouse would stop responding. The only solution was to power everything off and then power it back up. Lately it started happening nearly every time I powered it up. Waiting for RMA from factory to see how they handle it.

Manufacturer Response:

Thank you for choosing IOGEAR and sorry about your experience. The KVM definitely should not work as you have described. Since you have already processed an RMA, please monitor your concern and see if it happens again on your new unit. One thing you can do for USB port reset is to trigger the USB reset hotkey which is [Num Lock][-][F5]. If you have any further question, please feel free to contact our tech support at 1(866)946-4327 and we would be glad to assist you. Once again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.

Pros: Nicely designed box and cables. I like the feature of switching the audio as well as the keyboard, mouse, and video (sort of the video - see below). It would get 5 eggs if it only worked correctly.

Cons: It would seem to me that something called a KVM switch would reliably and successfully switch the Keyboard, Video, and Mouse. Unfortunately this KVM switch doesn't seem to support the higher resolutions on Windows 7 64-bit. It works fine with Windows 7 32-bit and XP. It will not support the 1920x1080 resolution of my HP 2159m monitor, however, to the Win-7 64-bit system. Instead I get this awful lower resolution. I can't set the resolution manually to override this situation.

Other Thoughts: The HP display works great when connected directly to the Win-7 64-bit system. Does not work when connected through this KVM. The EDID from the monitor isn't passed through to the system. I should have bought a cheaper unit. I though IOGEAR would have been better than this. Not a good experience. My advice, stay away and buy something else that actually works.

Manufacturer Response:

Thank you for choosing IOGEAR and sorry about your experience. Our GCS1804 would work fine on Windows 7 x64. We would suggest to you to right-click on open area from your desktop and click on Screen Resolution. When the window pops up, click on Detect as the image that we attached. This is to let the monitor and the video card to talk to each other while the KVM learn and store the DDC information onto the KVM. If you have any further question, please feel free to contact our tech support at 1(866)946-4327 with your RMA ticket number and we would be glad to assist you on your RMA. Once again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.

Pros: 1) good video at 1920x1080
2) audio/usb separate switching from video/keyboard/mouse,
3) good construction,
4) neat cabling,
5) beeping can be turned off,
6) usb 2.0,
7) button and hot-key switching
8) osd
9) switchable hot-keys

Cons: 1) IOGear Tech supports says it's not compatible with my Dell E6400 (xp)...this is a show stopper for me and I would imagine quite a few others,
2) doesn't pass resolution information through to computers...at least I had to disable checks and set it manually for 2 of mine.
3) kind of a nit...with <hotkey><hotkey><1-4><enter> for switching...doesn't it seem the <enter> is pointless?

Other Thoughts: Some more information on the compatibility issue: When the laptop is selected it works fine, however when I switch to another computer the laptop sees the switch as disconnected which causes the display configuration to reset. I've used this laptop with 3 other switches that don't have this problem (all three cheaper models). Overall this seems like a good switch, but I guess not for anyone with a similar laptop.

Pros: As previous reviewers report, it is very atractive looking and well built physically.

Cons: "Tech support" has very little knowledge and was no help at all on two separate calls (two different people). I was even told the box was just not designed for use with a PS/2 keyboard. The book says it is, and an adapter is supplied. If the person who writes the Manufacturers Response had written the little manual or was available by phone at tech support I might have solved my problems. I hate to RMA but it became my only solution.

Other Thoughts: It is possible that I made some careless mistake but when 4 computers were hooked up (2 XP and 2 Windows 7) all 8 LEDs were on full bright so the switch would not function. Tech support blamed my keyboard. Switching to a USB keyboard did not help. With just 2 XP boxes attached it worked perfectly except when I switched to a new Microsoft wireless mouse. This is my 4th iogear KVM switch in the past 5 years. The first three work perfectly (2 4-port and 1 8-port) Fortunately I never tried calling tech support until this one.

Manufacturer Response:

Thank you for choosing IOGEAR and sorry about your experience. Our KVM does support PS/2 Keyboard and mouse via the PS/2 to USB adapter that we provided, just connect the PS/2 to USB adapter to the console keyboard port of the KVM. As for the LED all light up full bright, please try to power cycle the KVM and see if that helps. If the LEDs continue to all light up full bright, the unit is not working properly. Since this unit is backed by IOGEAR’s 3 year warranty, please feel free to contact our tech support at 1(866)946-4327 and we would be glad to assist you. Once again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.