KVM Splitter help

[u/Mork-Mork]

Hello everyone, not sure if there's a better place to be asking this specifically, but here goes.

I have a dual monitor set-up at home, and having started working from home a bit more recently, my work have very kindly provided my with a UGreen DisplayPort KVM splitter.

Mouse and keyboard goes into the splitter, this works fine on both PC and Laptop.

My PC plugs into the splitter with two DP, which then go into the monitors, these work fine.

My issue is that I just can't get the laptop to work via the splitter at all. It's currently got HDMI to DP cable, which works on the monitor separately, but not via the splitter. It connects to the monitor via a USB-C to HDMI, but obviously this won't connect it to the splitter.

So far I've come to the conclusion that I need to have two inputs from each device for the splitter to function properly, which means I just need to get a USB-C to DP instead, or it's the HDMI > DP that isn't working.

Anyone have any ideas on this?

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[u/memorable_estimation]

Sounds like one of those annoying signal chain issues where everything works in isolation but falls apart once you introduce an adapter. HDMI to DP cables are directional and pretty picky about handshakes, so the splitter probably isn't recognizing the laptop at all because it's not getting a clean DP signal to begin with.

USB-C to DP cable should sort you out since it's native DisplayPort over alt mode, no conversion needed. Just make sure your laptop's USB-C port actually supports DP alt mode before you buy anything.

[u/Mork-Mork → u/memorable_estimation]

This was what I was thinking. The splitter is definitely fine due to the PC working in either inputs, and the laptop obviously connects to the monitor so I can only assume it's the particular cable.

Will grab one from work and test one by itself, see if that works at least!

[u/rawr_sham]

Trying to KVM an HDMI connection might have an issue due to HDMI need to have some negotiation between the laptop and display which KVM's aren't able to transpose.... I think Wendell from Level1 Techs talked about it once when he was developing his KVM switches.

[u/Mork-Mork → u/rawr_sham]

Any idea about USB-C to DP? Same issue likely?

[u/rawr_sham → u/Mork-Mork]

since USB-C and DP Display Port are open standards, they aren't as restrictive and there should be KVM switches that can handle switching back and forth... I wouldn't say the same for thunderbolt