Connecting keyboard and mouse to multiple consoles

[Arseen]

If I bough:
- USB Keyboard
- USB Mouse
- 1 -> 2 USB hub
- 1 -> 7 USB hub
- USB-A male -> USB-A male cable *7
- USB-A female -> USB-A female connection piece

Would this set-up work for connecting mouse and keyboard to 7 consoles.
Mind you that only one console is on at anytime (and the 1 -> 7 hub has on/off switches).

The red line are the hub ends that normally connect to PC connected together with the USB-A female -> USB-A female connection piece.

[Megatron]

So while I cannot speak to this exact scenario, I do have a similar set up with optical audio cables to my surround sound system.  Essentially it's the same idea, only in reverse.  Each console has an optical audio cable run to a splitter, which connects to another splitter, and into my system.  So long as only one is selected at a time, it works fine.

Like I said, apples and oranges, but I don't see why this wouldn't work, so long as each console supports the USB mouse and keyboard.

[Dr.Agon]

I don't see why it wouldn't, I could do a 4 console test (wii u/PS3/xbox 360/wii), shouldn't be too hard to set up...

[Arseen]

I don't see why it wouldn't, I could do a 4 console test (wii u/PS3/xbox 360/wii), shouldn't be too hard to set up...

Thank you that would be nice just to make sure before I order the missing stuff.
The red connection is what makes me suspicious.

[TDIRunner]

I'm kind of curious to see how this works since you are sort of using the 7 way splitter to do the opposite of what a USB hub normally does.  But since UBS lines run information in both directions, I don't see why it woudln't work. 

But yeah, I would want to know before droping money on that much stuff. 

[Dr.Agon]

Cool, I'll start setting it up tonight

Just give me a couple of hours...

[sheep2001]

I'm kind of curious to see how this works since you are sort of using the 7 way splitter to do the opposite of what a USB hub normally does.  But since UBS lines run information in both directions, I don't see why it woudln't work. 

But yeah, I would want to know before droping money on that much stuff. 

I thought that, and my gut reaction is that it won't work, as theuisb controller on the pc determines how the data is routed, BUT I don't know for sure so ignore me. Lol

[Dr.Agon]

well, so far it doesn't work 

I only have 1 USB hub so could only test it with a mouse...

mouse-to-hub-to-PC, connected in the normal way works perfectly

mouse-to-hub-to-PC, connected in reverse, like how you wanted it Arseen, didn't work

I initially thought it might be because the hub I have is powered through my PC, maybe one with an external power supply might work??
unfortunately, all my attempts to power this hub externally have failed...

so, I'm not 100% sure it wont work, just 99%...

[Arseen]

That I feared, thanx for trying.

[TDIRunner]

I have an externally powered USB hub, so I might be able to try it.  The only problem is that the output from the hub to the computer has a different connectcor (similar to a printer usb cable).  I would need some type of adapter to plug my mouse or keyboard into this port of the USB hub (which I think Arseen already admitted he would need for his setup).  Unfortunately I don't have this adapter in order to test it.

Now that I think about it more, I think the plug on the output is different for a reason: so that you can't hook it up they way you are describing.  In other words, the hub isn't desgined to work in the way you want.

[sheep2001]

I think you'd have more luck with straight usb y splitter cables such as
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/261292328894-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

[Dr.Agon]

@Arseen; Not a problem dude, happy to try and help!

i'm sure i could splice together a crazy octo-cable that'd work, but i'd need 8 USB cables first...

@TDIRunner

does it look like this?



if so, you can get adapters;



(EDIT: personally i would just chop the end off and splice on a proper one, but that's just crazy, mad scientist me )

[Arseen]

I think you'd have more luck with straight usb y splitter cables such as
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/261292328894-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

Thank you for the info

Hmm, 7 of those + one in reverse would do the trick.

Setting would be 2->1 (combining keyboard and mose into one line) + 1 ->2 (1 cable), 2->4 (2 cables) and finally 4->8 (4 cables) so path from
K+M to console would be 1 combiner Y-cable + 3 splitter Y-cabls + maybe 1m extension cable in between.
Wonder would it work with the signal going thru that?

Must do some research.

[Arseen]

Yes but the USB-A type would have to be female also

[Thom Grayson]

What you are doing sounds a lot like a KVM switch, and I KNOW those work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVM_switch