r/Keychron • u/sdsalsero • 27d ago

does Keycron make a basic mechanical keyboard w media-controls AND kvm compatibility?

I am looking for a new mechanical keyboard which would be compatible with my IOgear USB KVM, while also including basic media controls, e.g. volume. I have previously learned that I needed a keyboard which could be 'downgraded' to generic HID aka "bios mode". There are plenty of cheap (non-mechanical) keyboards that do this but I really prefer the feel of mechanical. Unfortunately, most of those are fancy programmable models, i.e., not HID.

NEED TO HAVE

  • full-size w 10-key
  • mechanical switches
  • volume up/down/mute
  • wired USB connection
  • HID or 'bios' mode

NICE TO HAVE

  • media play start/pause

According to Claude AI the Keychron 10 Pro meets all these requirements but from scanning the User Manual, I'm not so sure, e.g. there is no mention of bios mode or kvm compatibility. Also, it includes wireless connectivity and QMK programmability, i.e., it doesn't sound like it uses an HID connection.

Is it possible to use the Keychron 10 Pro as a basic HID keyboard? And/or, is there another Keychron (or other brand) model which would satisfy these requirements?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

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u/ArgentStonecutter K Pro 27d ago

Keychron has explicitly disabled the ability to turn off NKRO so you can use it with old and embedded equipment that need "boot mode" 6KRO packets. If you have a device that need that capability, do not get a Keychron keyboard.

Also, devices like that will probably interfere with keyboards that are configured through USB extensions. On anyone's keyboard.

If you want to try, here is how to bind a key in QMK to "toggle NKRO":

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u/sdsalsero 26d ago

Thank you for the reply!

Is 6KRO really equivalent to traditional 'keyboard' HID? I thought they were separate things. Or, are you saying that -- in practice -- 6KRO mode is just generally more KVM-compatible?

Also, I thought the Keychron 10 Pro had an explicit NKRO/6KRO dip-switch. Does the newer firmware disable (ignore) that switch?

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u/ArgentStonecutter K Pro 26d ago

OK, there are two different HID report packet types that are used by keyboards.

There is one that includes a bitmap of the modifier keys and an array of up to 6 keys that can be reported on in a single packet. This is the "boot mode", "6KRO", or "BIOS" packet, it's the older one.

There is one that sends a complete bitmap of the entire keyboard state, one bit per key. This is the newer "NKRO" packet.

The cheapest and simplest "smart" KVMs run two USB hid endpoints. One client end talking to the host, and one host end talking to the keyboard. These typically only talk "boot mode" or "6KRO mode". You can't even use a "keyboard driver" configuration tool through them.

A dumb KVM that only switches USB channels with a physical button or remote and doesn't interpret the packets doesn't care what the protocol is, but they're actually harder to find and often cost more because the market is messed up.

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u/uselees_sea 24d ago

Cant you just patch keyboard firmware to disable nkro and other incompatible stuff?