Keyboard Splitter (PS2, USB, Bluetooth, Wireless, etc.)

[micahc]

I'm not looking for a traditional splitter that allows you to have two
keyboards plugged in to a single computer. Instead, I want a single
keyboard plugged into multiple computers. I want to be able to send a
keystroke (for example the 'A' key) and have that keystroke go to
multiple computers (5 for this particular application). I am willing
to go with any solution that gets the job done be it a split USB or PS2
cable or a single wireless keyboard that is synced with multiple
wireless receivers at the same time.

Does anyone know what would work best? I have heard of this being done
with a wireless keyboard but I have been unable to find any useful
information on the subject that talks about what exactly you need.
Ideally I would like a solution that let's me pick out a keyboard so
I'm not locked into one brand/product but again, any solution is better
then what I have now (no solution).

 

[Grinder]

I'm not looking for a traditional splitter that allows you to have two
keyboards plugged in to a single computer. Instead, I want a single
keyboard plugged into multiple computers. I want to be able to send a
keystroke (for example the 'A' key) and have that keystroke go to
multiple computers (5 for this particular application). I am willing
to go with any solution that gets the job done be it a split USB or PS2
cable or a single wireless keyboard that is synced with multiple
wireless receivers at the same time.

Does anyone know what would work best? I have heard of this being done
with a wireless keyboard but I have been unable to find any useful
information on the subject that talks about what exactly you need.

I bought a pair of cheapo wireless keyboard/mouse combinations a year or
so ago. The receiver has a button on it that you press, then press a
small button on the keyboard, then mouse, to sync the channel. If you
press the button on both receivers, you can sync one keyboard and one
mouse to two machines.

Find a wireless keyboard/mouse combo that you're interested in, and read
the documentation or contact the manufacturer to make sure that you can
control how they are sync'd to the receiver.

Ideally I would like a solution that let's me pick out a keyboard so
I'm not locked into one brand/product but again, any solution is better
then what I have now (no solution).

It sounds like some sort of wired "multiplier" would be the safest
option for you, but I'm not really finding anything like that for purchase.

If you don't mind discussing it, what is your application for doing this?

 

[micahc]

I bought a pair of cheapo wireless keyboard/mouse combinations a year or

so ago. The receiver has a button on it that you press, then press a
small button on the keyboard, then mouse, to sync the channel. If you
press the button on both receivers, you can sync one keyboard and one
mouse to two machines.

Find a wireless keyboard/mouse combo that you're interested in, and read
the documentation or contact the manufacturer to make sure that you can
control how they are sync'd to the receiver.

Do you happen to know if there is a specific technical specification
that I should look for? My biggest worry is putting down the money for
a wireless keyboard/mouse only to find out that what I thought would
work ends up having some technology that prevents your keyboard signal
from being picked up by other wireless keyboard users.

It sounds like some sort of wired "multiplier" would be the safest
option for you, but I'm not really finding anything like that for purchase.

Thanks for the keyword! I just did a search for "keyboard multiplier"
and the top google listing is exactly what I am looking for. I just
didn't think to search for multiplier (I kept searching for splitter).
I'll see what I can find anything with this new search term.

If you don't mind discussing it, what is your application for doing this?

I play the game World of Warcraft and I have multiple accounts, I want
to take up what is known as multi-boxing where you play several in-game
characters at the same time instead of the traditional one character at
a time. Having a single keyboard hooked up to multiple computers
allows me to not have to deal with having 5 keyboards arrayed out in
front of me and instead I can have the 'A' key on the keyboard do
something different on each computer (or it could do the same thing on
each of them).

Since I know the question will come up, "Why would you want to do
that?" I'll answer it now. It's a challenge. I have played the game
through many times the traditional way and it's lost it's luster.
Multi-boxing is something others have done before me (though most use
multiple keyboards) and it sounded like a challenge to me so I figured
I would give it a shot. My ultimate goal is to be able to complete all
the game content that is designed to be completed by a group of 5 all
by myself.

 

[paulmd]

I'm not looking for a traditional splitter that allows you to have two
keyboards plugged in to a single computer. Instead, I want a single
keyboard plugged into multiple computers. I want to be able to send a
keystroke (for example the 'A' key) and have that keystroke go to
multiple computers (5 for this particular application). I am willing
to go with any solution that gets the job done be it a split USB or PS2
cable or a single wireless keyboard that is synced with multiple
wireless receivers at the same time.

Does anyone know what would work best? I have heard of this being done
with a wireless keyboard but I have been unable to find any useful
information on the subject that talks about what exactly you need.
Ideally I would like a solution that let's me pick out a keyboard so
I'm not locked into one brand/product but again, any solution is better
then what I have now (no solution).

You COULD splice a bunch of PS/2 cables together and make a custom
part.

 

[Grinder]

Do you happen to know if there is a specific technical specification
that I should look for? My biggest worry is putting down the money for
a wireless keyboard/mouse only to find out that what I thought would
work ends up having some technology that prevents your keyboard signal
from being picked up by other wireless keyboard users.

I guess I would contact the manufacturer.

Thanks for the keyword! I just did a search for "keyboard multiplier"
and the top google listing is exactly what I am looking for. I just
didn't think to search for multiplier (I kept searching for splitter).
I'll see what I can find anything with this new search term.

Good luck.

 

[Rod Speed]

You COULD splice a bunch of PS/2 cables together and make a custom part.

Not a good idea at all, and it wont work anyway.

 

[micahc]

In case anyone comes across this thread in the future I figured I would
respond one last time to this thread with the solution I eventually
came up with.

There is an open source program called Synergy
(http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/) that is basically a software KM (no
V) solution. The way it works is it intercepts all your keyboard/mouse
input into a single machine (the server) and then depending on which
monitor you are focused on it forwards all keyboard/mouse movements to
that machine (the client) over a standard network. You can set your
computer monitors up for each machine side by side and then mouse off
of one and onto the other to change focus or you can set a hotkey to
change focus. It also has the nice feature of being able to carry your
clipboard with you between computers.

Anyway, my solution is to modify that program (since it's open source)
such that instead of routing the mouse/keyboard movements it actually
broadcasts them out to all clients. I plan on adding a hotkey that
will allow me to toggle this functionality on/off so I have more
control over the situation and possible add the ability to control a
subset of clients at a time (also with a hotkey). I have the
broadcasting done, I just need to add in the hotkeys now.

Thank you all for your help with the hardware solution, the one
keyboard multiplier I did find was prohibitavely expensive ($200) for
this project since the computers for it are only about $150 each.

 

[Rod Speed]

Much more elegant solution.

In case anyone comes across this thread in the future I figured I
would respond one last time to this thread with the solution I
eventually came up with.

There is an open source program called Synergy
(http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/) that is basically a software KM (no
V) solution. The way it works is it intercepts all your keyboard/mouse
input into a single machine (the server) and then depending on which
monitor you are focused on it forwards all keyboard/mouse movements to
that machine (the client) over a standard network. You can set your
computer monitors up for each machine side by side and then mouse off
of one and onto the other to change focus or you can set a hotkey to
change focus. It also has the nice feature of being able to carry your
clipboard with you between computers.

Anyway, my solution is to modify that program (since it's open source)
such that instead of routing the mouse/keyboard movements it actually
broadcasts them out to all clients. I plan on adding a hotkey that
will allow me to toggle this functionality on/off so I have more
control over the situation and possible add the ability to control a
subset of clients at a time (also with a hotkey). I have the
broadcasting done, I just need to add in the hotkeys now.

Thank you all for your help with the hardware solution, the one
keyboard multiplier I did find was prohibitavely expensive ($200) for
this project since the computers for it are only about $150 each.