Need a SILENT KVM for PS2 computers

Yesterday I replaced my 2 PC Belkin KVM switch with the F1DJ102P-B
that supports 4 PCs and found that the thing makes a pair of loud
chirps when switching PCs. I called Belkin to find out how to disable
this "feature" and was told it couldn't be done. He said that some
people like the feature (and therefore since some like it we must all
deal with it). Anyway, he said that they have another model that has
a flash upgrade that can disable the beep. I knew there'd be a catch
so I asked how much it costs and he said it retails for $150! The one
I bought yesterday was already too expensive at $80 and how I need to
spend another $70 to eliminate a feature that shouldn't be there in
the first place?

I need a KVM that supports at least 3 PCs using PS2 / VGA devices, but
I refuse to buy a Belkin product after this little game. It seems
close to "bait and switch" if you ask me. Nowhere on the package does
it say that this thing will perform a mandatory noisy beep when
switching computers. Anyone know of another manufacturer of KVM
switches?

Typo. It was the:
F1DJ104P-B
Not the
F1DJ102P-B

scs0 wrote:
> Yesterday I replaced my 2 PC Belkin KVM switch with the F1DJ102P-B
> that supports 4 PCs and found that the thing makes a pair of loud
> chirps when switching PCs. I called Belkin to find out how to disable
> this "feature" and was told it couldn't be done. He said that some
> people like the feature (and therefore since some like it we must all
> deal with it). Anyway, he said that they have another model that has
> a flash upgrade that can disable the beep. I knew there'd be a catch
> so I asked how much it costs and he said it retails for $150! The one
> I bought yesterday was already too expensive at $80 and how I need to
> spend another $70 to eliminate a feature that shouldn't be there in
> the first place?
>
> I need a KVM that supports at least 3 PCs using PS2 / VGA devices, but
> I refuse to buy a Belkin product after this little game. It seems
> close to "bait and switch" if you ask me. Nowhere on the package does
> it say that this thing will perform a mandatory noisy beep when
> switching computers. Anyone know of another manufacturer of KVM
> switches?
>

Open up the switch, find the little speaker module, and either clip a
lead or fill the speaker with silicon sealant.

Q

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:29:35 -0700, scs0 <scs0@vol.com>
wrote:

>Yesterday I replaced my 2 PC Belkin KVM switch with the F1DJ102P-B
>that supports 4 PCs and found that the thing makes a pair of loud
>chirps when switching PCs. I called Belkin to find out how to disable
>this "feature" and was told it couldn't be done. He said that some
>people like the feature (and therefore since some like it we must all
>deal with it). Anyway, he said that they have another model that has
>a flash upgrade that can disable the beep. I knew there'd be a catch
>so I asked how much it costs and he said it retails for $150! The one
>I bought yesterday was already too expensive at $80 and how I need to
>spend another $70 to eliminate a feature that shouldn't be there in
>the first place?
>
>I need a KVM that supports at least 3 PCs using PS2 / VGA devices, but
>I refuse to buy a Belkin product after this little game. It seems
>close to "bait and switch" if you ask me. Nowhere on the package does
>it say that this thing will perform a mandatory noisy beep when
>switching computers. Anyone know of another manufacturer of KVM
>switches?

Pop open it's case to see if you can locate the beeper to
desolder it?

> Open up the switch, find the little speaker module, and either clip a
> lead or fill the speaker with silicon sealant.

That will void my warrenty, and I know one rule about modern
electronics: they're barely designed to work. That rule is especially
true for electronics that aren't physically touched and have no moving
parts. I swear changes to the barometric pressure can cause them to
break. Anyway, I see a lot of sense in what you're saying but opening
this up is not an option.

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:04:27 -0700, scs0 <scs0@vol.com>
wrote:

>> Open up the switch, find the little speaker module, and either clip a
>> lead or fill the speaker with silicon sealant.
>
>That will void my warrenty, and I know one rule about modern
>electronics: they're barely designed to work. That rule is especially
>true for electronics that aren't physically touched and have no moving
>parts.

It's not a big deal to desolder it, hard to say if easy to
clip or not depending on the configuration. I have filled
some beeper/buzzers with silicone sealant and epoxy before
and it does cut down the volume a lot but they're usually
still audible. Perhaps if I had completely disassembled
them and filled in with epoxy on both sides it would have
reduced noise to an inaudible level.


>I swear changes to the barometric pressure can cause them to
>break. Anyway, I see a lot of sense in what you're saying but opening
>this up is not an option.


Ok, but a 4 port VGA/PS2 KVM is worth about $25 new... minus
the cost to ship it to them if it breaks, it's not a large
loss relatively plus you'd still have to pay for another
KVM.

> It's not a big deal to desolder it, hard to say if easy to
> clip or not depending on the configuration.

I noticed just today that the KVM actually has screws on the bottom.
My old KVM did not and snapped together so this means there's some
hope in being able to open it. It seems like I should be able to find
a small speaker in there and cut the wire.

I don't think it's worth it at this point. My old KVM (also Belkin)
used to lose mouse wheel and sometimes even mouse position
information. It was very annoying since there's no excuse whatsoever
for those kinds of errors. Today with this new KVM I lost the
Character Repeat Delay and Rate values, so if I hold down a button
there's now a long delay between the appearance of additional
characters. I have these settings set to the shortest delay possible,
and if I go into my keyboard properties it still shows a short delay.
I have to change it then change it back in order to regain my
settings. It's 2007 and I'm using ancient PS2 devices. This kind of
bug is inexcusable. Belkin support said I needed to buy an AC adapter
to avoid this problem! I told them I am not spending extra to fix
their product's problem.

It serves me right. My other KVM was Belkin and it gave me lots of
problems, but I bought this one anyway. It's like I'm an owner of
Microsoft's XBOX 360 who is shocked to learn that the thing broke
down. But what was I to do? I don't see any other KVMs around! I
researched and found IOGear, but their stuff beeps too. With this new
Belkin my room sounds like there's a damn flock of parakeets in it.



> Ok, but a 4 port VGA/PS2 KVM is worth about $25 new... minus
> the cost to ship it to them if it breaks, it's not a large
> loss relatively plus you'd still have to pay for another
> KVM.

Really? Mine cost $80 and the beepless 4-port KVM that Belkin
suggested I buy retails for $179 on their website.

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:24:24 -0700, scs0 <scs0@vol.com>
wrote:

>> It's not a big deal to desolder it, hard to say if easy to
>> clip or not depending on the configuration.
>
>I noticed just today that the KVM actually has screws on the bottom.
>My old KVM did not and snapped together so this means there's some
>hope in being able to open it.

Even a snap together is not that hard to open. So what if
there's a tiny crease in the plastic from prying it open? I
doubt a KVM case is going to win any artistic awards.


>It seems like I should be able to find
>a small speaker in there and cut the wire.

I doubt there's a wire, probably a surface mounted component
meaning you would need to desolder it or cut a trace (dremel
tool or a thin X-acto knife would be the two more popular
methods).

>
>I don't think it's worth it at this point. My old KVM (also Belkin)
>used to lose mouse wheel and sometimes even mouse position
>information. It was very annoying since there's no excuse whatsoever
>for those kinds of errors.

At the prices you mention below I agree it should not
happen. However, there is finite power available from a PS2
port which has to power the KVM and the attached keyboard
and mouse. Some use more power than others. That is, "IF"
the potential problem you mention below is the actual cause.


>Today with this new KVM I lost the
>Character Repeat Delay and Rate values, so if I hold down a button
>there's now a long delay between the appearance of additional
>characters. I have these settings set to the shortest delay possible,
>and if I go into my keyboard properties it still shows a short delay.
>I have to change it then change it back in order to regain my
>settings.

That is odd, no KVM should cause it. Why had you not just
returned it for a refund right after purchase?



>It's 2007 and I'm using ancient PS2 devices. This kind of
>bug is inexcusable. Belkin support said I needed to buy an AC adapter
>to avoid this problem! I told them I am not spending extra to fix
>their product's problem.

I don't see why you're keeping it then. Either get an
adapter or return it.


>
>It serves me right. My other KVM was Belkin and it gave me lots of
>problems, but I bought this one anyway. It's like I'm an owner of
>Microsoft's XBOX 360 who is shocked to learn that the thing broke
>down. But what was I to do? I don't see any other KVMs around! I
>researched and found IOGear, but their stuff beeps too. With this new
>Belkin my room sounds like there's a damn flock of parakeets in it.

Are you only shopping at local stores? Surely there is
something online.



>
>
>
>> Ok, but a 4 port VGA/PS2 KVM is worth about $25 new... minus
>> the cost to ship it to them if it breaks, it's not a large
>> loss relatively plus you'd still have to pay for another
>> KVM.
>
>Really? Mine cost $80 and the beepless 4-port KVM that Belkin
>suggested I buy retails for $179 on their website.

I would just ignore retail prices... but there are plenty of
KVMs for far less money. Maybe one has to do a bit of
hunting to find many for $25 but closer to $35-50 there are
quite a few choices.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-KEYBOARD-MOU...QQcmdZViewItem

The above linked item is generic but Belkin isn't exactly
exuding quality either.

IMO, regardless of whether you should or shouldn't have to
fix what you have, it might be worthwhile to just see if it
would work with an AC supply. You might already have one
that is suitable, lots of devices use AC supplies so just
figure out what it needs. You might have one from a
cordless phone or USB hub or any number of devices that you
could temporarily hook up just to see if that resolves the
problem. As for the speaker, it would take less time to fix
than write about it, but if you are really this unhappy with
it you should return it. So long as customers keep spending
money for junk, the manufacturer has no incentive to improve
it.

"scs0" <scs0@vol.com> wrote in message
news:1186586975.123352.133290@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> Yesterday I replaced my 2 PC Belkin KVM switch with the F1DJ102P-B
> that supports 4 PCs and found that the thing makes a pair of loud
> chirps when switching PCs. I called Belkin to find out how to disable
> this "feature" and was told it couldn't be done. He said that some
> people like the feature (and therefore since some like it we must all
> deal with it).

Remove the cover and rip the speaker off!

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:37:55 -0400, kony <spam@spam.com>
wrote:

<snip>

>IMO, regardless of whether you should or shouldn't have to
>fix what you have, it might be worthwhile to just see if it
>would work with an AC supply. You might already have one
>that is suitable, lots of devices use AC supplies so just
>figure out what it needs. You might have one from a
>cordless phone or USB hub or any number of devices that you
>could temporarily hook up just to see if that resolves the
>problem.

To elaborate, I am assuming you know, and I was implying,
that this AC supply is actually an AC-DC adapter (of the
appropriate voltage, typically either an unregulated type
12V or less (which is then regulated internally by the KVM),
or a regulated 5V, and this should be clearly spec'd in the
KVM product documentation).

On Aug 8, 4:29 pm, scs0 <s...@vol.com> wrote:
> Yesterday I replaced my 2 PC Belkin KVM switch with the F1DJ102P-B
> that supports 4 PCs and found that the thing makes a pair of loud
> chirps when switching PCs. I called Belkin to find out how to disable
> this "feature" and was told it couldn't be done. He said that some
> people like the feature (and therefore since some like it we must all
> deal with it). Anyway, he said that they have another model that has
> a flash upgrade that can disable the beep. I knew there'd be a catch
> so I asked how much it costs and he said it retails for $150! The one
> I bought yesterday was already too expensive at $80 and how I need to
> spend another $70 to eliminate a feature that shouldn't be there in
> the first place?
>
> I need a KVM that supports at least 3 PCs using PS2 / VGA devices, but
> I refuse to buy a Belkin product after this little game. It seems
> close to "bait and switch" if you ask me. Nowhere on the package does
> it say that this thing will perform a mandatory noisy beep when
> switching computers. Anyone know of another manufacturer of KVM
> switches?

I did a search once, somebody recommended stuffing tissue in the
little hole of the speaker. I might've done that. And cellotaped the
tissue on there. Rolled it up into a thin roll like thing, and stuck
it down there, and cellotaped it.I doubt it silenced it completely,
but it helped alot.

As you say, you really want to buy one that doesn't beep !

I actually had a bunch of comps downstairs on a KVM Switch, + A KVM
Extender. So muffling the speaker with the tissue ,kept the noise
down. And I could not hear it from upstairs! I have very good hearing
though, I like my computers fanless or far away!

I find it hard to believe that all the people responding here have KVM
Switches that beep, or never saw ones that don't beep.

I suggest emailing manufacturers of KVM Switches, and retailers. And
report back.

Hi, thanks for the link.

The store I bought the KVM was a little out of the way so I couldn't
return it for a few days. It was returned on Saturday and now I'm
back to my old 2-port KVM for my 3 PCs.


> So long as customers keep spending
> money for junk, the manufacturer has no incentive to improve
> it.

I completely agree and rarely do I ever "just live" with something
because I hate buying bad technology. It doesn't seem like anything
anymore is designed to last or even work, and why should it?
Microsoft became one of the biggest companies on earth even though
their products are buggy and unreliable. It seems like the only
electronic device I own that works as it should is my Nintendo DS.
That thing has survived more abuse than would have destroyed a few
dozen cellphones.

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:28:36 -0700, scs0 <scs0@vol.com>
wrote:

>Hi, thanks for the link.
>
>The store I bought the KVM was a little out of the way so I couldn't
>return it for a few days. It was returned on Saturday and now I'm
>back to my old 2-port KVM for my 3 PCs.
>
>
>> So long as customers keep spending
>> money for junk, the manufacturer has no incentive to improve
>> it.
>
>I completely agree and rarely do I ever "just live" with something
>because I hate buying bad technology. It doesn't seem like anything
>anymore is designed to last or even work, and why should it?
>Microsoft became one of the biggest companies on earth even though
>their products are buggy and unreliable. It seems like the only
>electronic device I own that works as it should is my Nintendo DS.
>That thing has survived more abuse than would have destroyed a few
>dozen cellphones.
>


Maybe the worst part is that with today's fine-pitched
electronics and lead-free solder, even the parts that work
perfectly may short out in a few years from tin whiskers. I
dread the thought of telling someone to "examine your parts
with a microscope".