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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: elchupanegre on Fri, 08 February 2013, 13:54:44

Title: Filco Dropping Out on KVM Switches
Post by: elchupanegre on Fri, 08 February 2013, 13:54:44
I'm using a new Filco at work on a KVM switch and I keep noticing that when I've switched to one of the two machines the keyboard keeps momentarily dropping out. The num lock light flickers and no key presses are recognised, and the mouse stutters as well. It only lasts a second or two and then comes back on again, but does it repeatedly every few minutes.

It doesn't do that with a 'normal' keyboard and it's absolutely fine switched to the other machine (luckily the one I use the vast majority of the time).

Could the Filco require more power than a normal board and the computer/KVM is struggling to provide it? Also, do you think this could damage the controller in my keyboard if the power is a bit dodgy?

I'm thinking of buying a powered USB hub and plugging that into the KVM switch to make sure power isn't the problem, but I'm not sure if it'll work.
Title: Re: Filco Dropping Out on KVM Switches
Post by: hoggy on Fri, 08 February 2013, 13:58:56
Powered hub is worth a try.  I've had all sorts of issues before I got mine.
Title: Re: Filco Dropping Out on KVM Switches
Post by: rootwyrm on Fri, 08 February 2013, 15:22:07
No, the problem is not the Filco's power demands. The problem is that the host has USB Selective Suspend enabled. The flickering and stuttering is a result of the USB ports waking up and then reinitializing the devices. All you should need to do is disable Selective Suspend on the host with the stuttering.
Title: Re: Filco Dropping Out on KVM Switches
Post by: hoggy on Fri, 08 February 2013, 15:34:44
Good to know.
Title: Re: Filco Dropping Out on KVM Switches
Post by: rootwyrm on Fri, 08 February 2013, 16:21:41
Gah.. brainfart. The other possibility is a cruddy KVM that disconnects the USB devices when the host is not selected. But that doesn't fit the description quite right because of the stutter. However, still a possibility. It's been a week. ;/