Customer Reviews

IOGEAR 4-Port MiniView Micro PS/2 Audio KVM Switch with 4 Cables GCS614A

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is the second KVM switch I've owned. I was excited to have audio support. However, upon setup I found that audio response was very poor ~ next to no response from my subwoofer, and all low-end sound seemed to be filtered out. I emailed IOGEAR's support department and received the following response:
------------
Greetings,

Thank you for contacting us.

Subwoolfers are not supported by this KVM. It will only support a powered two speaker setup. We are changing the packaging to reflect this.

I apologize for any inconvenience.
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...very disappointing, as this not-so-minor detail is not mentioned anywhere on IOGEAR's website, not in the product brochure.

Aside from this drawback, the switch works as you'd expect. One minor gripe I have is that the hotkey sequence 'ctrl-alt-shift-#', where '#' corresponds to the computer you'd like to access, is kind of a pain. My previous KVM switch used a double-tap of the scroll lock key...which became second nature after using it for a while. I'm not sure why such a long hotkey combination is necessary. Granted, this is only a minor drawback. On the possitive side, setup was a no-brainer, and my Logitech wireless keyboards works perfectly (despite IOGEAR's warning that wireless keyboard and mice aren't fully supported).

Bottom line? If audio is important to you and you have more than two speakers, you'll definitely want to consider other options. If audio's not important, you may still be able to find a cheaper 4-port KVM swich which does not have audio integration.

First off, I'm a techie, and not afraid to experiment with *any* computer device. So, when I couldn't get this to work (yes, I read the directions!), I had to scour the web and discovered that the hot key sequence as described in the documentation (Ctrl-Alt-Shift) does NOT tell you that you need to hit AND RELEASE all keys in sequence. From the other reviews, I'm not the only user who had trouble discovering this anomaly, but now that I have it working, I suggest that you approach the key sequence as follows: tap and release the ctrl key, then the alt key, and finally the shift key, and you should see the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock lights alternate. Then, tap the number key for the computer you wish to access.

So, while this works well, the documentation needs to be fixed.

Terrible product and poor design! I tried everything to make this switch to work with no success. I then called technical support and they couldn't get it to work either. As for design at the connector hub, inputs are to close causing fittings to be cramped and bent. I had to force all connectors: video,keyboard,mouse,& audio to fit properly.

This will be going back!

Update!

Got my replacement and finally got it to work. After going back checking all the cables and spending time playing with it. The trick to make it work is to press all four keys CTrL,ALT,SHIFT then the computer # (1,2,3,or 4) rapid & exactly in order. Try doing this a few times to get a feel for it. This worked for me.

I give it a low rating for the trouble and poor intructions by the manual and tech support.

Upgrade to 3 STARS for the design flaw.

Out of the box, on the 3 PCs, didn't work. Called 24x7 tech support, got through quickly and was told I had to start PC 1, when it was booted start PC 2, etc. Didn't work. Called tech support back, rebooted all 3 machines (you can only see one so you just power them off) he said it didn't matter what order the PCs were started in. Tried two other keyboards. My device worked on whichever PC started first, and only that one. It would not switch between them.

Iogear tech Support delayed responding to a known defective audio chip in the unit with two weeks of emails and then insisted that I FAX my serial number to get permission to pay for returning it to them. Instead, I returned it for the $20 cheaper Cables to Go 2PT Authority2-Micro KVM with Audio that has worked flawlessly.

Maybe IOGEAR has come a long way since those last reviews from 2004, but I LOVE this product. If you can plug in a keyboard, you can hook this up in 2-3 minutes. I hooked it up to a new HP and a 5 year old Dell, the former running Vista, the latter running XP. I have a set of external Altec Lansing speakers. The sound is just as good as before, the hookup is responsive and switching back and forth between the 2 PCs couldn't be easier - just tap the SCROLL LOCK button twice. Like magic. I wanted to move tons of files from one PC to the other. I plugged in my Flash Drive to my Dell PC, copied the files to it, moved the Flash to the HP PC, hit SCROLL LOCK twice, and 'dragged' the files from the Flash to the HP hard drive. I use ONE monitor, ONE keyboard, ONE mouse, and ONE set of external speakers for both PCs. I need to log on to one website with 2 different IDs at the same time, so 2 PCs are the perfect solution to that dilema for me. (I have them both connected to my DSL jack with ethernet cables) It's a WHOLE lot less expensive than purchasing a 2nd monitor for the other PC. Takes up a LOT less space than a 2nd monitor would. I couldn't be happier with this IOMEGA switch. Recommend it highly.

High quality and value based on my experience in the PC industry - however, this is my first kvm switch. Excellent 4-port value relative to the competition, cables included, tiny size. Paid about $90. Model GCS614A received 12-30-06.

Switching speed: usually fully 2-3 seconds of a 'black monitor screen' while switching. Can be a little off putting. Is this switching lag typical for electronically switched peripherals? If so I just don't know. Sometimes switching is instant... more often though it is not.

Video compatility: if PC 1 is rebooted while the kvm is switched to PC 2,3, or 4 the video image on PC 1 will not come up - I get a "signal out of range" message on the monitor but no video card output. Work around (as noted by others) is to leave the kvm on PC 1 during at least part of the reboot.

Audio support: works well with my Monsoon subwoofer -- Unlike the other user I had no issue and get good bass response through the switched audio connection (However, mine is ONLY a 2 channel system).

Hub connectors: fairly tight spacing for the jacks. My usb to mini-din mouse connector requred trimming with a razor blade to fit next to the monitor plug. (Dell peripherals from 2001 and later.)

Hot key sequence: the "ctrl-alt-shift-#" keypress sequence works exactly as listed in manual. A bit clumsy using this sequence. In practice I would prefer a combination with fewer keys.

Mode confirmation: unlike the other reviewer I find no need for an audible `mode' confirmation. The visual LEDs do confirm the exact PC getting input but in practice I would never see the LEDs, nor need to amongst the wiring bundle on the floor.

User manual: acceptable. "getting started guide" lacks hot key sequence info.

Support: can't comment, I haven't needed support.

Buyer beware:
Keyboard, Mouse and Video quality - 5 stars
Audio quality - 1 star

If audio quality is important, do not buy this model. The sound level is scratchy and tin-like. I tried from 2 different computers (both Red Hat 9 and Windows XP) and the result was still the same, very *poor* audio quality.

I do not know why a company which manufactures and sells computer hardware would include a feature that does not work. I have come to expect this practice from software companies where it is common practice to sell a product that is broken out of the box. For some reason this is not acceptable on hardware products.

In sum, I returned my unit and bought the equivalent belkin model instead. It was worth it despite being $10 more cause the audio works great on it.

It should be said first that I like this switch for what it is.

First the technical side of the review, I'll list the features and functions of this KVM switch.

The GCS612A accommodates two computers via keyboard switching with audio support. This means you are able to use one keyboard, mouse, and set of speakers for two separate computers.

The GCS612A has two modes of switching. Manual switch via the SCROLL LOCK key and auto-switching via Left Shift & Right Shift. You can program the auto-switch function to a set amount of time. Note during auto-switch you can not use the keyboard / mouse unless you press the spacebar key, so it's strictly useful for monitoring computers automatically. It's also a backup just in-case you somehow don't have a SCROLL LOCK key or your SCROLL LOCK key is broken.

The Iogear GCS612A is essentially a budget KVM switch meant for use on some older hardware. It's relatively compact and small, and the cables are high quality. It is very basic and has no programmable options, no remote controls, and no other bells and whistles.

First and foremost for KVM people is the compatibility with adapters and converters. PS/2 to USB is the first thing that comes to mind, and I have successfully gotten this switch to work with such adapters. Like others, I felt it was the KVM itself being faulty when I couldn't get my 2nd computer to recognize the mouse or keyboard. It turns out the adapters I were using were of poor quality, so when I had switched to a better brand of PS2 to USB adapter, it worked without a hitch there after. So there's a lot of room here for trial and error, I would advise those having similar issues to take a good look at your adapters rather than the KVM switch itself.

The GCS612A does not have button switching. This means you are strictly dependent on keyboard switching using the SCROLL LOCK key. Logitech people - be warned. Some keyboards produced by certain manufacturers omit the SCROLL LOCK key, and you will not be able to switch between computers without resorting to the auto-switch function with the left shift + right shift combination.

My biggest issue with this KVM switch is the video resolution reset. Should your computer reboot at any time while the switch is active on the other monitor, there's a good chance the switch will default your other monitor to VGA basic (640x480 or 800x600) resolution. It's a minor problem, but for those who have to reboot often or work in situations where reboots are required, it's a very big issue and can be frustrating. Apparently the switch sticks to the resolution during boot-up (Bios load) and doesn't auto sense to switch when Windows (or your OS) loads. The quality of the output signal isn't also the sharpest, so those who need high fidelity or color rendition should definitely avoid using this switch. Think of the GCS612A as pure practicality in terms of KVM switches.

You should be able to find this switch today under $20 at most electronic stores. Due to the aging PS/2 format and the increasing move over to DVI / HDMI video outputs, there's not much life left in this KVM switch outside of aging hardware. At the end of the day however, the GCS612A KVM switch works as intended and there's little else to criticize outside of that. If you are looking for something that just fits the bill enough for regular work usage, go ahead and take the plunge.

This IOGEAR 2 Port KVM Switch (GCS612A) is a great switch if you have simple needs to share a monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse with two desktops. I bought this to help with the upgrade process when I recently bought a new PC but kept my old monitor. It is very easy to use, and the directions that come in the package are very straightforward. There are clearly marked inputs for each component with a corresponding set of connectors for each desktop. After connecting everything, a simple double hit of the "Scroll Lock" key seamlessly transfers control between the two machines. After reading some negatives on sound quality, I decided to do a test and compare the sound on my new PC between using the switch and directly connecting the speakers to the desktop. My speakers are nothing to write home about, but I could not tell any substantial difference between the direct connection and going through the switch. You mileage may vary depending on your speakers. One item to note is that the switch only workers with externally powered speakers. The speakers on my old PC plugged in through a special port that powered them so they did not work. Luckily I already had another set that had its own power source. The one thing the switch will not do is connect the microphone on my monitor. I really don't use it so this is not a problem for me. When choosing a KVM switch, you should make sure that all of the components that you want to share have a connection on the switch. Overall, this is a very solid product for the limited scope that I needed.