Keyboard Setup with BMOW Wombat

[jmacz]

I might be joining this party late but man, I am happy with the BMOW Wombat ADB/USB adapter. Really great product from @bigmessowires.

I have a MacBook Air, Linux PC, Macintosh IIfx, and a Macintosh Quadra 700 that I routinely use from a single desk. I've had a 2 input KVM switch (well KM really) for the MacBook Air and Linux PC. But for the two Macintoshes, I had two AEKs and two Turbo Mice from Kensington sitting on the desk as well. And all of this was using up all of my desk space.

So I made the move to change to this setup:



I have a USB based mouse and a Happy Hacking Keyboard, which are plugged into a 4-port USB KVM. Then I have the MacBook Air and the Linux PC connected to it. I have the IIfx and the Quadra 700 each connected to the KVM as well via two Wombats (one for each vintage Mac). I can now easily switch between them with one keyboard and mouse freeing up space. I have not yet tried it (since I surprisingly don't have any mini-USB cables) but will try the F13 power button to see if it will power up the vintage Macs from the HHKB. But my desk space is free and it's been working great. Love it!

KVM is somewhat a misnomer as I'm only using keyboard/mouse switching, not video. But the 4-port device I'm using is:

Amazon.com

I like the big fat button to switch between computers.

 

[bigmessowires]

Nice, I'm glad to hear your setup is working well. I'll mention that K(V)M model to anyone who asks.

When the Wombat was first designed, mini USB-B was more common than it is now. I need to update the design with micro USB or USB C instead.

Since you've got two Wombats, you could stack them together in a sandwich, using standoffs in the corner mounting holes.

 

[jmacz]

The F13/PrintScreen acting as the power button does work through the K(V)M.

 

[Durosity]

Out of interest, does the wombat work with Keyboard/Mouse through a USB hub?

 

[cheesestraws]

Out of interest, does the wombat work with Keyboard/Mouse through a USB hub?

Unless I am hugely misremembering, yes - I had mine running through a USB hub before and it was fine.

 

[macuserman]

When the Wombat was first designed, mini USB-B was more common than it is now. I need to update the design with micro USB or USB C instead.

I for one would dance on a table for a USB C updated version.

 

[jmacz]

I have not tried it through a USB hub. But still happy with this setup!

 

[opualuan]

I’m using this configuration through a kvm successfully as well. I’d be interested in a usb-c version, but even more interested if support for usb joysticks (mapping to keyboard) was added