Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4-Port KVM Switch with Audio

by Belkin

Product Details

Product Manual [771kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 4.6 x 8.4 inches ; 2.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006BB9I
• Item model number: F1DS104T
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Belkin gives you control over four computers--either PS/2 or USB models, or both--from a single PS/2 console. Our audio feature lets you switch between computers sharing speakers and a microphone, without having to unplug and re-plug them. Using the SOHO Series on Sun and Macintosh USB platforms gives you easy, cross-platform control. With its advanced features, such as audio and microphone switching support, the Belkin SOHO Series makes controlling multiple computers easier than ever.

Features

• Controls 4 computers from 1 keyboard, video monitor, and mouse
• Offers audio and microphone switching
• Supports video resolutions up to 2048x1536@85Hz
• Delivers uncompromising display quality
• Updates firmware easily with flash feature
• Builds-in cable management with sleek vertical design
• Requires no additional power supply
• Comes with a Belkin 5-Year Warranty and free technical support
• Features PS/2 hot keys and direct-access port selectors for easy manual switching

Product Description

ALLOWS CONTROL OF 4 COMPUTERS FROM 1 KEYBOARD VIDEO MONITOR & MOUSE OFFERS AUDIO & MICROPHONE SWITCHING SUPPORTS VIDEO RESOLUTIONS UP TO 2048 X 1536 @ 85 HZ FLASH FEATURE EASILY UPDATES FIRMWARE PS/2 HOT KEYS & DIRECT-ACCESS PORT SELECTORS FOR EASY MANUAL SWITCHING SLEEK VERTICAL DESIGN WITH BUILT-IN CABLE MANAGEMENT

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just a warning from an experience with the DVI version, July 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4-Port KVM Switch with Audio (Personal Computers)

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Linksys and IOGear out-perform this failed product., March 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4-Port KVM Switch with Audio (Personal Computers)

In my search to find one adequate KVM switch to work with Windows and Linux, I now own five KVM switches (around $450 worth). The Belkin Omniview is the worst of the lot. I have one Omnicube which gets by O.K. A two port IOGear all-in-the-cable model works great, but IOGear's four port models have intrusive keyboard shortcuts that interfere with applications and games. However, the 4 port IOGear model came with a full set of cables. Ultimately, the Linksys SVIEW04 was the grand solution. The SVIEW04 provides all the quality of the IOGear models and also allows the keyboard shortcuts to be disabled.

Unfortunately, the magazines that have been recommending these products haven't been doing their research. You must investigate all the specifications, and you must also read the entire manual before buying. Someone might have noticed that the firmware update feature on the Omniview isn't well documented. Then, there must be testing of all the features with multiple operating systems; and clearly, those recomending these products have failed to do this.

Linksys (the best) and IOGear are clearly better products than this one.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a pile of junk. I wish they had 0 stars., February 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4-Port KVM Switch with Audio (Personal Computers)

I'm done using Belkin. I have two of these "SOHO USB" units, and they both display similar problems: Certain machines won't boot past POST when attached, keyboard and mouse randomly fail to work on boot, video loads in wrong resolution unless you set KVM focus on the booting machine clear through to when your OS boots into the GUI. One of my configurations requires me to keep mice attached to the machines directly -- if I attach them to the KVM the machines lock on boot. I just picked up the 4-port Belkin "Pro2" (thinking I'm getting what I pay for with the SOHO model), and it's even worse! I can boot successfully (on three different systems) perhaps one out of every 8 tries.

Finally, on a recommendation from our IT dept., I tried the IOGear Ultra. I attached three different machines (including one Sun box), and everything booted up without a hitch! I'm done tearing my hair out over Belkin's quirks. If you run into similar problems once you pick up a Belkin model, I'd suggest you give IOGear a try. It opened my eyes.