Question 1

How long are the cables?

Accepted Answer

Hi Kathy, cables are 48" long give or take a hair. Here is something people should know. The earlier KVM cables has been  heavy and not very flexible. This thing here is the best I have ever seen. They are much thinner and flex good. The little button get you from PC1...PC4  in that order (not backwards) with ease.
On scale 1..5 stars I give 10. Great product! Good luck.

Question 2

I'd like to use this with a laptop and a tower computer.  I'm wondering if when I'm using the laptop if I can still run a dual monitor setup?

Thanks!

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can do that if you have dual monitor connections from the computer that you want to have the dual monitor setup - on one of those monitor outlets connect the KVM, and on the other connect directly to another monitor. One screen will switch while the other will receive output from the monitor that is connected directly to the computer that has both monitors connected to it.

You can only switch ONE of the monitors to another computer with this switch, not both.

My motherboard has both a DSUB and DVI connection. I connect the KVM to the DSUB connection and another monitor to the DVI connection. The DVI monitor always remains the same while the other monitor that is connected through the KVM switches to other computers.

Question 3

Is there a keyboard hotkey for switching computers?

Accepted Answer

There is no keyboard hot key for this device.
There is a smaller plastic button on a long wire that you must
push to switch between screens.

This was the only reasonably priced KVM I could find to switch between 3 PC's that have USB Mice and Keyboards.

Note I don't like not having Hot Keys and even tried the older affordable Dlink PS2 KVM switch with PS2 to USB adapters.
Unfortunately, it didn't work. The mouse was doing weirds things.

Question 4

If we use 2 ports out of the 4 of this KVM switch, will the switching be among those 2 interfaces only or among all 4?

Accepted Answer

It will cycle through all 4 ports regardless how many are connected.

Question 5

If you plug wireless dongles in this KVM for mice or keyboards, will they work i.e. can they just pass through to the connected PC once drivers are installed?

Cheers,

Accepted Answer

I have 2 of this product. I Use a Logitech wireless Track Ball at work and a Logitech wireless gaming mouse (MX100?) at home.

Both of them work just fine.

My only problem with this unit is that at work I switch between computers 20-30 times a day. After a year or so the little manual switch wore out and became very "iffy".

I replaced the unit with an IOGear GCS634U which has hot key switching and I am extremely pleased with it.

My unit at home is still working just fine.

Question 6

If we use 2 ports out of the 4 of this KVM switch, I understand that it'll still switch between all 4 but while it is on each will it display any number somewhere on the LCD. For example if it uses port 1, so will it display the number 1 or channel 1 anywhere on the LCD?

Accepted Answer

The full LCD will display only the one desktop, that you select. Using your example. If you use the cable to connect to a computer on port 1 and port 4 and both computers are powered and running, you use the selection switch to indicate what desktop you want to view on the LCD. If you toggle the selection switch and choose port 1, you will only see port 1's desktop. If you use the toggle switch and select either port 2 or 3 where no computer is connected to it, then LCD screen will not display anything since no computers are connected on those ports. If you toggle and select port 4, you will see the desktop for only the computer on port 4. You ONLY view ONE desktop on the LCD depending on what port you select.

Question 7

Is this going to work if I put DVI converters over VGA cuz my computers have only DVI port ?

Accepted Answer

If your pc outputs DVI-I (integrated digital & analog), then it should work to the input of the KVM with a DVI-VGA adapter, then straight VGA-VGA to the monitors.  If it only outputs DVI-D (digital only), then no it won't work. You can't convert Digital to Analog with a passive adapter like this KVM.

Question 8

I understand that this comes with a US-style electrical plug.  But is it strictly for 120V/60Hz operation?  Or will it function on 220V as so many other products do?

Accepted Answer

Technically, it does not use 110v directly and is NOT plugged into an electric outlet.  It draws its power from the USB ports of the computers it is plugged into.  As long as the voltage on the USB port is the same on a computer running 110v or 220v (which it is), then this will work.

Question 9

I have an existing KVM switch which use a VGA cable for my monitor and VGA cables  as my connection  from each processor. I am looking to replace my antiquated processor, but the HP model I am looking  at uses only a USB cable to connect to the KVM switch. Is there a KVM switch which allows me to have both a USB connection and a VGA connection for my processor and a VGA connection for my monitor? Printer uses USB cable and speakers use plug in cables

Accepted Answer

The KVM switch I have (above)  has two USB inputs for each VGA input. Not sure if I understand you 100% correctly, but I'll try my best to help. 
The two USB female inputs on the face of this switch are replicated to all four connections (USB replaced the PS2 connecttions basically). As for the display, I've never heard of a USB display output before, but I have another idea.
I have an HP Elitedesk 800 G1 SSF, and it has two Display port connections in addition to the standard VGA port. The Display port connection looks almost like a USB port, but one corner is angled. HP likes to use these types of connections for more versatility with existing technology in the enviorment. You will need a Displayport to VGA adapter to connect the HP to a monitor (either a VGA monitor or the KVM switch). I have dual screens on mine, and ended up having to get two adapters. They're fairly inexpensive. I'm thinking this could be what you are looking for? Other than that, you may need a hub to convert to a VGA interface.

Hope this helps!

Question 10

Will this work on laptop with Vista, laptop with Windows 8, PC with Windows 7 Home edition, and Linux OS?

Accepted Answer

Well I do not have it connected to a laptop, but I use it for a PC running 2011 Server, a PC running Windows 7 Home, and a PC running Windows 8.1/Linux.

Brand	IOGEAR
Model	GCS24U

Type	D-Sub, USB
PC Connectors	Monitor 4 x HDB-15 Male Keyboard & Mouse 4 x Type-A Male
Console Connectors	Monitor 1 x HDB-15 Female Keyboard 1 x Type-A Female Mouse 1 x Type-A Female
Computer Connections	4 Ports
Monitor Connections	1 Port
Video Resolution	2048 x 1536
PC Selection	Push Buttons

Temperature	Operational: 0 to 50 degree C Storage: -20 to 60 degree C
Humidity	0% to 80%,Non-Condensing

Dimensions	6.38" x 7.88" x 2.38"
Weight	1.46 lbs.

Attribute	Value
Best For	Sharing one USB keyboard, USB mouse, and VGA monitor across four computers
Video Support	Supports resolutions up to 2048 × 1536 with DDC2B and plug-and-play monitor support
Ports And Connectivity	Connects four computers through HDB-15 VGA and USB Type-A plugs; the console has one HDB-15 VGA port and separate USB Type-A keyboard and mouse ports
Switching And Setup	Select computers with push buttons or the included 6 ft. remote control cable; attached cables simplify setup, and no software drivers are required
Platform Compatibility	Compatible with PC, Mac, and Sun platforms; supports Windows 2000 or higher, Mac OS 9.0 or higher, and Sun Solaris 9 or higher
Power	No power adapter required
Environmental Conditions	Operating temperature: 0–50 °C; storage temperature: −20–60 °C; humidity: 0–80%, non-condensing
Physical Specifications	Measures 6.38 × 7.88 × 2.38 inches and weighs 1.46 lb.; black
Compliance	Meets ETL, FCC, CE, RoHS, and WEEE specifications

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IOGEAR GCS24U 4-Port USB VGA KVM Cable Switch

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Item#: N82E16817399045