What is a KVM extender and why would I use it?
The letters KVM actually stand for ‘Keyboard’, ‘Video monitor’ and ‘Mouse’. A KVM extender is actually a very useful item. They are used to solve problems with the positioning of your computer. They have applications with home users and also for industry (for example as part of broadcast KVM solutions, in conjunction with broadcast quality KVM switches).
They work by taking the outputs from a PC and delivering them to a local sender device that encodes the signals into a format that can be passed down a suitable connection medium.
KVM extenders will allow you to have your computer base (or central processor unit (CPU)) in one room and the screen and mouse in another and there are many reasons you may want to do this.
A PC is noisy and gives off heat, so if you want to use your computer in a quiet working environment such as a small office, an extender allows you to do so without having to put up with the background noise caused by the whirring discs and fans.
PC’s are valuable items and often contain sensitive company or personal data. Locking the PC away and having only the KVM accessible, protects both your investment and your data.
A computer base is quite bulky and takes space on or under a desk. KVM extenders are routinely used in situations such as bank counters, where PC access is required but space is at a premium.
A PC is actually quite a sensitive machine. If you work in a cold, dirty or wet environment it’s obviously not great for your computer. However, in some situations you will need to access a PC from these sorts of places, so it makes sense to site the CPU in a clean environment where it is protected and where you can expect it to function correctly. Using the extender allows you to retain access to the computer from where you need to.
Another benefit is that they work reliably and you will only have one cable to run between the PC and the KVM making the cabling tidy and very easy.
If you need to position your CPU away from your keyboard and mouse for whatever reason then a KVM extender is the solution.
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