JideTech 16x1 HDMI USB KVM Switch 4K@60Hz with USB 3.0 Hub, Hotkey Switching, HDCP2.1 & Intelligent EDID — Multi System USB Peripheral Sharing for Office/Studio/IT Rack

In the modern era of 4K 60 Hz monitors and fancy programmable keyboards, KVM switches have faced an increasingly recalcitrant set of equipment with narrowing opportunities for compatibility.Nevertheless, to my utter delight I have been able to use the 4-port Jidetech KVM with the following, very difficult, setup (NOTE DISCLAIMERS BELOW):• 2021 M1 Max Macbook Pro 16"• Dell XPS 9310 2-in-1 on a Dell WD19TB Thunderbolt 3 dock• 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) @ 60 Hz Samsung UN48JS9000 48" TV over HDMI 2.0• Kinesis Advantage2 keyboard• Two (left + right) Evoluent Vertical Mouse 4PROVISOS:• The Kinesis and Evoluent USB devices listed above only work when plugged into their own *powered* USB 2.0 hub, and the hub plugged into the front (data) USB-A port on the KVM. I leave the KVM's unpowered keyboard/mouse USB-A ports on the back unused, except when I plug in a standard "dumb" keyboard to use a hotkey, like when I turned off the beeps.• The M1 Macbook Pro only reliably connects to the KVM using a Thunderbolt 3 (not USB-C) dual-HDMI adapter. I use the Sonnet one. I emphasize: NOT USB-C. The internal HDMI port and USB-C HDMI adapters all result in highly variable connections, from blank screens to TV noise to successful connections that don't survive sleep.• The Dell XPS laptop is more tolerant of a simple DP-to-HDMI adapter (presumably off the USB controller), but ... see below for caveats.• The thin Redmere HDMI cables I was using all eventually ended up with flicker/noise/blank screen. The provided HDMI cables are far more reliable.Kinesis has famously said that their Advantage keyboards don't work with the vast majority of KVM switches, and they are correct. Even with the Jidetech the Advantage2 does not work in its back, unpowered, keyboard port. So the fact the Jidetech KVM works with my Advantage2 through a powered hub into the front data USB-A port is a brilliant discovery.Extending your USB devices through a KVM may cause certain devices to end up "too many hops away" from your computer's USB controller. This was a big problem for my Plantronics Savi MG8220 headset and Calisto 7200 speakerphone, which can only withstand being two USB hubs away from the XPS laptop (WD19TB dock -> powered USB 2.0 hub) before causing Windows 10 to throw a warning. I had to plug them into a separate USB 2.0 hub (and thence into the WD19TB dock) so those devices are not part of the KVM switch.Even worse, if you're already pushing the limits of the data bandwidth your controller can handle, adding one more device (like the KVM switch itself) can cause you to exceed that limit.For example, I was hoping to use the WD19TB's own DisplayPort jack (with a DP-to-HDMI adapter), rather than purchase another Thunderbolt 3 HDMI adapter like I have to with the M1 Macbook Pro 16". But I have so many USB devices attached I have to bump off at least one USB device in order to retain enough data bandwidth for the WD19TB's DP port not to cause artifacts and KVM connection delays. So I will be getting a Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI adapter for the WD19TB hub as well.So all-in-all, as with 100% of other KVM switches, the Jidetech KVM is no slot-in affair.But it truly is brilliant that my above setup is switchable at all, and reliably so.For this, never mind the detailed instructions and provided high-quality accessories (like the five superb HDMI 2.0 cables), and the fact that mine is a actually used copy from Amazon Warehouse — 5 stars.

UPDATE 2: I was having some struggles with the audio, and finally got my RGB speakers to work by turning on the hot keys, and then CTRL+CTRL+P+ENTER to enable the "loudspeaker" setting. This is also in the manual.UPDATE: I was able to disable the beep! It's amazing how helpful reading the user manual can be...With the hotkey thing on, you press the right CTRL button twice, then B, then Enter. Don't hold them!So my set up is a brand new PC I built like last week (Dec 2024) and a work laptop that's currently a lenovo thinkpad of some sort. I additionally have my mechanical keyboard (wired) and my logitech mouse that uses a USB dongle plugged in.When I initially set everything up, my mouse kept becoming unresponsive, but once I turned off the "hot key" thing, all was well! My keyboard initially had some issues being recognized by both PCs, but I'm typing this review with my keyboard connected through the KVM now. I just had to unplug it and plug it back in, which is an issue I've had occasionally with my previous KVM as well. I assume (based on my limited experience) that this is just a thing that happens sometimes.I was also very impressed with the build quality of this! It's hefty! I love that it comes with a remote too.My one complaint is the fact that when you switch from one PC to another, it lets out a single beep that is as loud and shrill as my fire alarm and I CANNOT stand it. It doesn't matter if it only lasts a second, it's the worst!! If someone can tell me how to disable it, or I figure out how to disable it on my own, I'll report back.Overall though this thing is great so far.

I was extremely happy with this KVM. It had some audio crackling, but switching audio was not a priority for me. However, after using it with no problems for about two months, I plugged in a new USB device, and the HDMI on the KVM just quit-- black screens on all devices, no more HDMI throughput on any of the channels.If not for that, I would have been extremely happy with this KVM. I am giving it four stars because I assume this was just some random manufacturing defect and I had bad luck. It did fail within the warranty period and Amazon would have replaced it free of charge if I wanted. I opted to go with another solution because I don't want to risk a similar incident in the future.

This KVM works very well and I definitely recommend it if you need a good but inexpensive KVM for your systems.

Functions properly for a while then sometimes screen disappears or flashes after a few days. Cycling the power seems to fix it. Removed one of the three computers connected to it today now I can't get any to show consistently. One shows for a few seconds then monitor goes black again. Power cycle, reset button etc... not fixing it. I thought getting one of the more expensive of these was a good plan. Turns out not.Also whoever in responsible for the beep when you change ports - that person shouldn't be in charge of these kinds of decisions. You can turn it off but why have it on in the first place.

7 months in, I replaced the mouse used with this KVM. After this, that mouse USB port is no longer recognized, and I lose video out on the HDMI. Re-reading some other reviews this is *exactly* what happened to me too: "I plugged in a new USB device, and the HDMI on the KVM just quit-- black screens on all devices, no more HDMI throughput on any of the channels." So putting this out there as now 'happens too often to be a coincidence'