So I discovered something illuminating about mechanical keyboards and KVM switches and USB hubs. Not all keyboards play well with them.
I didn't notice this with any of the Filco Majestouch-2 boards I'd used, or with the one WASD V2 keyboard I used for a while. Nor with my Topre RealForce or Noppoo EC108. But I've definitely noticed it with the Varmilo VA108 that I've been using at work for the last couple of weeks. Keypresses will sometimes go unregistered, or a key will often just repeat endlessly until another keypress is registered. "Lock" key LEDs will shut off even though the state of those keys is still in lock mode (NumLock being the most noticeable example).
At first I thought there was something wrong with the firmware in the board. But then I googled this phenomenon and noticed that a lot of folks encountered issues with other keyboards (not necessarily mechanicals) when connected to KVM switches or USB hubs. Here at work where I use the Varmilo VA108, I have my computer connected to a Gefen KVM switch. As soon as I unplugged the Varmilo from the KVM and plugged it directly into one of the computer's USB ports, these issues disappeared.
Is this a well-known phenomenon? I don't ever see anyone talk about it.
Keyboards that don't play well with KVM switches or USB hubs
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zslane
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Main keyboard: RealForce RGB
- Main mouse: Basic Microsoft USB mouse
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
According to a knowledgable source on Geekhack, it appears that the Varmilo keyboards have NKRO over USB (emulation) enabled by default with no way to disable it. This wreaks havoc with devices like KVMs, some USB hubs, and MacOS X.