TRENDnet TK-209K 2-Port USB KVM Switch Kit with Audio (Includes 2x KVM Cables)

Other products by TRENDnet

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 7.1 x 7.9 inches ; 22 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000L4D42Q
• Item model number: TK-209K
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (136 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

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  #1 in	Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Cables > Cables & Interconnects > KVM Switches
  #9 in	Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Networking Products > Switches

• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 16, 2007

Product Description

Product Description

The 2-Port USB Audio KVM Switch lets you control multimedia PCs with just one keyboard, monitor, mouse, microphone, and a set of speakers. The KVM switch not only allows you to share your monitor, keyboard and mouse but you can also share microphone and speakers. With just a simple press of a button, this KVM switch eliminates the hassle of cable swapping and switching between 2 PCs. With its Hot-Plug, Auto-Scan and Hot-Key operating features, the TK-209K is the perfect choice for managing 2 PCs. Separate KVM cables are included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works with Mac Mini and PC, few minutes to setup, January 13, 2008

By	C. Chu - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This switch simply works. No complicated setup, no software to install. Just turn off both computers. Plug the shared keyboard, monitor, mouse, speakers and microphone into the switch, connect the included cables into the switch and the two computers. Then turn on the first computer, the one you want to designate as #1. After the first computer boots up and everything is okay, then push the #2 button and boot the second computer. That's it. From then on, you just push the button #1 or #2 to make the switch. It switches instantly, if both computers are not asleep. If one is asleep, it gives the signal, and then the PC takes only a few seconds to wake up.

I read a lot of reviews and I'm glad I did. Other switches seem to need software to work well, and rely on keystrokes to change. Because this switch has a button, it just truly switches over without any need to install software, making it the most generic. For PCs, you can use the scroll-lock+scroll-lock key combination to elicit the switchover. But it's simpler just to teach my kids to select button 1 or button 2.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, slightly ugly cabling, yet works perfectly, September 13, 2007

By	P. Dejarnett "OverZealous" (MI, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I also own an expensive Belkin 4-computer model (USB w/audio), but this one actually works better. The Belkin one breaks my multi-function KB, as well as preventing my monitor from sleeping. The TrendNET one works perfectly on both counts, I can switch from my PC to my Mac using ScrollLock+ScrollLock, and it includes the cables. (The cabling weighs about 10X the actual KVM ;-)

One small warning - a Mac cannot use the ScrollLock+ScrollLock keystroke to switch between inputs, so you have to be able to reach the physical buttons.

My only complaints are minor. One is that the cables come off of all 4 sides (which I knew from the pictures), making it very difficult to look nice. You might need some cable ties.

The other complaint is that all of the cables in included are proprietary on the KVM-side - you cannot replace them with your own cables or longer ones. Even the audio cables use a mini-USB connector instead of miniplugs (why?), and the video AND USB ports come off of the VGA connectors! However, this doesn't prevent it from working, but may be a problem if your computers are very far apart, since you'll need 4 different extension cables.

Overall, I really like the product: it works well, doesn't require additional power, and includes all of the cabling.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great KVM, Works with Wireless Mouse, February 15, 2008

By	Scott - See all my reviews

This little switch works almost perfectly with our Macintosh G4 Digital Audio tower and Intel Mac mini. Keyboard is the Apple USB keyboard provided with the G4; mouse is the wireless Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer, using the USB Overdrive X driver on both Macs. Monitor is an old Radius 15" LCD with VGA connector, which is connected to the Mac mini using the latter's included DVI-to-VGA adapter.

Once, after using the switch to go from the G4 to the mini, the mouse buttons weren't recognized correctly. The left button acted like a control-click, and the right button was non-responsive. The problem went away after I simply used the KVM's buttons to switch to the G4 and then back again to the mini. This was an isolated occurrence.

The only down side is that the wires sticking out of the KVM are a bit messy. Since the KVM itself is quite small and light, the stiffness of the video cables and their weight make it difficult to keep it sitting straight in our preferred location atop the G4 tower's case. This can make it tricky to remember where the buttons are when reaching under our desk, and to find them by feel. Given how well the switch works, it's a very minor inconvenience.

After reading about the difficulties of finding a good KVM switch, especially one that works with a wireless mouse, I was a little nervous about trying this inexpensive product. I bought it based on my father-in-law's good experience with a Trendnet wireless router, and reading the recommendations here and on Apple's discussion forums. This has left me with a good impression of Trendnet, and I'd readily consider their other products in the future.