Subj : Re: Bluetooth To Ethernet To : Barry Martin From : Ky Moffet Date : Mon Apr 20 2026 08:52:00 BARRY MARTIN wrote: > Hi Ky! > > > KM> This is what a KVM is for.... one monitor etc, two to four > > KM> systems. > > Agree-but. Here I have found it hand to have (at least) two > > 'active' monitors: one is for the main system (which happens to have a > > second monitor attached, hence the 'at least') and an additional separate > > monitor which is on a HDMI switch (see later) for selecting multiple > > video inputs. > KM> Oh yeah, sometimes that's useful. Some KVMs have more than one > KM> output, for this very reason. > > Bet those start adding zeroes to the end of the price! You can get knockoff brand-X models for about $75. Or name-brand for $400 and up. I was looking for one a bit more modern and found a SIIG (big-name) 4-port 4K KVM for $90 shipped (new in box but missing the HDMI cables, which are easily replaced). Retail is about $500. It was listed at $120 shipped but I said, "Aren't there supposed to be HDMI cables with this?" and he said oops and dropped the price. > So I have two 'permanent' monitors on this system (the main one) and a > smaller third monitor which is on a HDMI switch. The third monitor gets > connected to the computer being created/work projects, plus a couple of > nearby headless systems. So, you've created a maze for the video to navigate to find a screen. Clever! > > Most (maybe all) of the computers I can remotely view using either > Remmina or TigerVNC -- depends on if the remote system uses X11 or > Wayland. So far there are three systems I need to use NoMachine to > remotely view. Wayland now has the ability to retain scaling across systems. I don't believe X has that, but it's a game changer for those who use a KVM or multiple monitors. > > (Now the 'later'.) I haven't had that much luck with KVM switches. > KM> Some are good some not. > > And the trick is to figure out which ones are the good ones! Name brand probably good. Brand X probably crap. My in-use good ones are StarTech, which would be my preferred due to experience, but didn't come across any 4-holer HDMI 4K models in the sub-$100 market. > KM> I've never seen a KVM randomly switch. If the computer does a > KM> complete power-down when it sleeps, that could cause the KVM to > KM> think it's powered off and switch away from it. My cheapie KVM > KM> will not switch to a system it thinks is not powered up. > > Right: this one does and I haven't found a reason. Will be fine for > weeks then all of a sudden start switching, and of course everytime it > changes input channel it chirps! AFAIK nothing changed (other than the > computers are on and so doing something). The change input sequence wil > sometimes be 'next!' (1 > 2 > 3...), sometimes random. Sometimes > plugging in to external USB power stops, sometimes unplugging stops. Sounds like it's set to poll rather than stay on a selected channel. Of course, it's possible the switch is failing. Or it doesn't entirely understand one of your video outputs. If one is HDMI and the switch lacks EDID that can cause confused behavior. > KM> I have three in use plus my antique Belkin that's retired because > KM> it can't do above 1024x768. There's a problem currently -- a lot > KM> of 'em can't do above 1920x1080, so if you have a higher > KM> resolution monitor, something to be aware of. Also the KVM has to > KM> specifically support include EDID and HDCP signal emulation, or > KM> it won't work right with HDMI. > > Right on the resolution. The monitors here are 1920x1080 but but yes, I > do try to make sure whatever I buy is at least capable of that > resolution and preferably a little more. Yeah, I've also been larger-monitor shopping and if I want an IPS monitor and a KVM, that somewhat restricts things, as KVMs do not generally work with ultrawides, and most still max out at 1080P. If you want 4K to come through a KVM, prices jump dramatically. > The EDID and HDCP requirements I sort of knew/sort of didn't know. > ..Here's a backwards question: if a new monitor is plugged in to an old > video card would the monitor sometimes not connect or not display > properly? I've never seen that, and my 27" from 2013 has been plugged into some very old (as in 16bit) video cards. Of course that card outputs 320x200 resolution, but the monitor doesn't care. > KM> What brand and model is yours? Some are a lot better'n others. > > (Which reads between-the-line as "which one do I stay away from?!" > 'Chirpie' is a MT-Viki (brand) MT-801HK-C (model). I've never seen the brand, but... Chinese company but has been specializing in that market (audio-video splitters and the like) since 2003. https://www.mt-viki.net/about-us/ Looks like they're mostly geared to business-to-business rather than consumer. Which tends to imply decent quality. > > (I miss the rotary switch KVM of the CRT days!) > KM> LOL, yeah, I miss my Belkin with hardware switches and keyboard > KM> switching too, but it's 40 years old! and doesn't > KM> support any of these newfangled connections or resolutions. > > Egh! VGA > DVI > HDMI adapters! Oh yeah, gotta hit Jacob's Parts and Gator Cable and get some more adapters.... > > Sometimes it seems to be a problem of "programming phrasing": the real > > OS won't work because it has a command the BIOS doesn't understand but > > the virtual machine will work because the VM knows how to work with that > > command. (Super-overly simplified!) > KM> Or rather, the virtual machine emulates what the host system > KM> cannot do. I know there are instances where this doesn't work > KM> because the CPU doesn't have the right instruction set, and there > KM> are limits to what can be emulated. > > Right: one needs to 'match' the software and the OS. All Windows > options don't work together, all Linux options don't work together. Of > course, that's nothing new: can't plug a 220v appliance into a 120v > outlet (well, *could* but isn't going to work right); could put diesel > fuel into gas lawn mower -- that one I don't know what the outcome would > be. Yeah. A transformer should work, but it might burn down your house. Garage54 put diesel in a gas car, and v.v. I vaguely recall the gas engine more or less ran on diesel, but the diesel engine wouldn't start on gas. You can run a two-stroke lawn mower on 4:1 gas:oil (correct mix is more like 20:1 or even 50:1), which would be a lot heavier mix than diesel... it'll smoke a lot but man the power... ask me how I know this. > KM> In this case, not the issue. The netbook's CPU already runs at > KM> 90-100% of cycles used just from Win11, and only has about 600mg > KM> RAM to spare, and that doesn't leave enough to run Virtual Box > KM> AND the WinXP VM. However Win2K will run on a fraction of the > KM> resources (the dead minimum is a better 486 with 8mb RAM -- won't > KM> install on that, but it WILL run) and it behaves just fine. > > Or what's known as "Ky's Rule": "sometimes". LOL. We make it happen! þ RNET 2.10U: ILink: Techware BBS þ Hollywood, Ca þ www.techware2k.com --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com (454:1/1) .