Belkin Soho F1DS104L VGA and USB 4 Port In/Out KVM Switch (Black)

by Belkin

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 14.1 x 10 inches ; 4.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0018LW7QK
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: F1DS104L
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #66 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > External Components > KVM Switches
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 29, 2008

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

With Belkin's newly redesigned SOHO KVM Switch, you can share your monitor, keyboard, and mouse with up to four USB computers. You can also connect one set of speakers and use them for all your computers.

The SOHO KVM Switch helps to increase your efficiency and productivity at home or in the office by reducing desktop clutter while keeping access to all of your programs and files spread across multiple computers.

*Belkin SOHO KVM Cables now come included in the box with your KVM Switch!

Advantages
•	Switches easily between Mac computers and PCs
•	Front-panel buttons with NEW LED indicator lights allow you access audio and video content from multiple computers simultaneously
•	Requires no software for installation
•	Now includes a built-in USB 2.0 hub for connecting your peripherals
•	Included cables are color-coded to match the front buttons and back panel for trouble-free installation
•	Now supports hot-key functionality for optional switching
•	Available in 2- and 4-port models
•	Supports monitors with VGA connections
•	Supports USB keyboards and mice
•	Supports USB-based computers

Product Description

4PORT USB SOHO KVM SWITCH Perp

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good KVM with a couple of flaws, December 18, 2008

By 

The Saint - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Belkin Soho F1DS104L VGA and USB 4 Port In/Out KVM Switch (Black) (Personal Computers)

It seems like a very adequate KVM switch. There is no lag between PC switching that others have complained about with other USB KVMs. One annoying thing that it does is beep everytime you switch PCs. Other Belkin KVMs have firmware updates that turn off the beep, but this one is too new to have any updates yet. I talked to Belkin tech support and they are reporting it, so hopefully a firmware update will allow you to toggle it off. Pretty stupid that they added it to other KVMs and not this one... Other than that, it's just large. They made the buttons huge and it makes the whole thing about 13 inches long.

Pros
-audio and microphone switching
-can switch KVM and audio independently (work on one PC while listening to music from another)
-4 good quality (color coded) cables included
-very little lag-time between switching
Cons
-Annoying beep when switching
-large footprint

***UPDATE*** - I came across a solution to the annoying beep/chirp. The hotkey sequence scrlk+scrlk+B toggles the beep. Funny that Belkin Tech support couldn't provide this solution and it is not in the manual anywhere.

Other than that, I've had this KVM for about 6 months with hardly any problems. Every now and again it will lose the connections for the mouse and keyboard, but bouncing power to the KVM for a second seems to fix it. It has probably only happened 3 or 4 times in 6 months. I'm happy with it.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great UI, But A Nightmare to Reboot, April 13, 2009

By 

Shambalagala - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Belkin Soho F1DS104L VGA and USB 4 Port In/Out KVM Switch (Black) (Personal Computers)

This KVM does what it promises - makes it easy to use several computers with a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It's the best-looking KVM I've seen. Most are designed by engineers - big boxes that look pretty ugly on your desk. This one has a nice interface, with color-coded cables, and unlike many others, this KVM comes with all the cables you need. It's a five-star item.

UNTIL YOU LOSE POWER OR UNPLUG IT

When the power goes out or you unplug it, it has a hell of a time getting back on track. It gets very confused and sends wrong signals to your computer, especially when using key-combinations. Keys will come across as other keys, when holding down a key it will sometimes go dead, the mouse will skip around, and for most purposes, it makes your computers very difficult to use until it is corrected. Here's what it takes to correct it:

1) Unplug the power and all USB cables from the KVM. Wait a few minutes
2) Turn off all the computers attached to it.
3) Plug in the KVM's power, then the USB for the keyboard, mouse, and ONLY ONE computer attached to it. Wait a few minutes.
4) Set the KVM to that computer.
5) Boot up the one attached computer.
6) Test your key combinations and mouse clicks. If it doesn't work, return to step one. If it does, add each other computer one by one.

This can take 30-45 minutes and is very frustrating, especially if your power goes down frequently like it does here in Atlanta. We lost power three times yesterday and two today, so I've wasted hours trying to get this KVM back in working order.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good KVMA switch, September 7, 2009

By 

In the Weeds (Alameda, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Belkin Soho F1DS104L VGA and USB 4 Port In/Out KVM Switch (Black) (Personal Computers)

I purchased this switch to accommodate my Windows PC's and my Mac mini. Works great. I love the fact that the video and audio are controlled by separate button so if I am listening to music on one computer and need to switch to another I can still hear the music.

Downside is that the switch is very large, and very rarely the mouse and keyboard freeze, but I just unplug the power from the switch and plug it back in and the mouse and keyboard start to work again. I am not sure why it happens, but it has happened two or three times in the 4 months I have had it.

Over all I would recommend this Switch