ATEN CS1782 KVM Switch
I often test multiple systems, or have a need to power up a second system to test something on a clean install. Next to my production machine, I have a complete second setup, including 24-inch display, keyboard, mouse, and speakers.
I hooked up two high-end systems to the ATEN CS1782 to see how the switch could handle a more complex setup.
The CS1782 is a slim, rectangular-boxshaped device. One side has a large array of connectors, while the other has one USB port, front panel audio jacks, and a pair of glowing buttons. The device does require a power brick to work. ATEN shipped a package including the switch and all the cables needed to connect a full 7.1 audio setup.
You can switch between systems using either keyboard hotkeys or the active buttons on the front of the unit.
The two systems I connected to the CS1782 both had fairly beefy 3D graphics hardware and high-end audio cards. One had a spiffy new Radeon HD4870 and an X-Fi Titanium PCI Express sound card. The other system ran with a GeForce 8800 GT and X-Fi Elite Pro PCI sound card.
I used a 26-inch widescreen display capable of running at 1920×1200 pixels. The CS1782’s DVI ports are all dual-link DVI, so the unit can support a 30-inch display running at 2560×1600.
The keyboard used is a recent Logitech Wave, along with a Logitech G5 gaming mouse.
Con necting the CS1782 to two systems is a bit of a chore, only because there are so many connections. DVI, mouse, and keyboard are fairly straightforward, but the 7.1 audio cables supplied with the unit use non-standard colour coding. You simply have to be consistent with the connector colours at each end. You’ll also need to connect a USB host cable to both systems.
Once connected, you can switch between systems using either hotkeys or the front panel buttons. For example, the hotkeys to switch main port focus is to press Scroll Lock twice in rapid succession, then the Enter key. If, for some reason, you have applications that make heavy use of the Scroll Lock key, ATEN supplies alternate mappings.
Perhaps the most important key combination to remember is the hotkey setting mode (HSM.) You enter HSM by holding down the Num Lock key, pressing the “-” key, then releasing Num Lock. You need to enter HSM to set up firmware updates, change default mappings or enable or disable emulation.
This last bit emulation modes threw me for a loop at first. When I started up my system after first connecting the CS1782, my G5 mouse would only move upward slowly, although buttons worked. I had to enter HSM, then disable mouse emulation by pressing the M key. This let all mouse commands simply pass through the switch to the system, allowing programmable gaming mice to work properly. (Emulation modes are necessary for some systems that require older or exotic mice.)
All the modes and key combinations are well-documented in the manual, which is simply laid out and easy to read.
Audio did work as expected. I only have 5.1 audio, but all my speakers worked properly with both systems, and the sound cards were able to detect all the speakers during speaker configuration setup.
At SGD330, the CS1782 is a little pricey for a two-port switch but it offers a wealth of features, including 7.1 channel audio, duallink DVI (with HDCP) and programmable input devices. This might be just the device for those MMO players looking to multi-box with full graphics and audio support-or for garners who want to separate gaming from production systems.
Pros
- Compatible with 7.1 channel audio.
- Dual-link DVI with HDCP.
Cons
- Still use serial port connector for firmware updates.
- No digital audio pass through with enough bandwidth for multichannel audio.
Contact Linkcraft Distribution
Tel 6270-9390
Web www.aten.com
| 2.5 |
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Tags: ATEN, CS1782, KVM Switch
