A KVM extender (keyboard, video, mouse) lets you keep a computer in one place and use it from somewhere else. The PC stays in a server room, a rack or a dusty factory cabinet, and the user sits at a clean, quiet desk with only a screen, keyboard and mouse. Hospitals, control rooms, broadcast studios, retail counters and gamers who want a silent room all use them. Four questions decide which model you need.
1. How far?
| Distance | Technology | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 40–50m | Direct Cat extender | 4KEX40-KVM (40m Cat6), 4KEX50-KVM (50m) |
| Up to 70–80m | Direct Cat extender | 4KEX70-USB-L (70m Cat6), HDEX80-KVM (80m, 1080p) |
| Up to 100m | HDBaseT | 4KEX100-KVM, 4KEX100-KVM-Pro, 8KEX100-KVM |
| Up to 120m, expandable | KVM over IP | 4KIP100-KVM |
| Up to 150m | Long-reach HDBaseT | 4KEX150-KVM |
| Up to 550m | Fibre | 4KIP500F-KVM (OM4 multimode) |
These are rated maximums on good solid-copper cable (or the specified fibre). Allow a 10–15% margin for patch leads and real-world installation.
2. Which resolution and refresh rate?
- Office work and dashboards: 1080p60 is enough. HDEX80-KVM is the economical choice.
- 4K design, CAD, medical imaging: choose 4K60 4:4:4 so that text and fine lines stay sharp: 4KEX40-KVM, 4KEX100-KVM, 4KEX100-KVM-Pro.
- Gaming and simulators: high refresh rates need a model built for them. 4KEX50-KVM supports 1080p up to 240Hz. 4KEX100-KVM-Pro uses uncompressed HDBaseT 3.0 and supports 144, 165 and 240Hz. 4KEX100-DP-Pro is the DisplayPort version.
- 8K or 4K120: 8KEX100-KVM (HDMI 2.1, 100m on Cat6 or better).
3. Which USB devices?
This is the question people miss most often.
- Keyboard and mouse only: USB 1.1 is enough, as on 4KEX70-USB-L.
- Webcam, headset, barcode scanner, smart-card reader, small drives: you need USB 2.0. Most models listed here have four USB 2.0 ports.
- Fast storage, 4K webcams, USB audio interfaces: you need USB 3.x. 4KEX100D-DM has a USB 3.2 hub, and U3EX100 extends USB 3.2 alone up to 100m if the video already travels another way.
4. One monitor or two?
Traders, controllers and editors usually need two screens. HDEX60-DM carries two 1080p60 screens up to 60m. 4KEX100D-DM carries two 4K60 screens up to 100m over Cat6A from a single USB-C connection on the PC.
Extender or KVM over IP?
A point-to-point extender connects one PC to one desk. If several operators need to reach many PCs, or one PC must appear on several desks, use KVM over IP. 4KIP100-KVM can be paired in up to 16 sets. For full matrix control rooms, see our control-room KVM over IP guide.
Installation checklist
- Use solid-copper Cat6 (Cat6a or Cat7 for 100m+ and 4K), terminated to T568B at both ends. Avoid CCA cable.
- Run the cable directly from transmitter to receiver. Couplers and patch panels reduce distance.
- Many kits send power over the cable (PoC or PoH), so you need only one adapter. Check which end it plugs into.
- Use the HDMI loop-out (on models such as 4KEX70-USB-L and 4KEX150-KVM) to keep a local monitor at the rack.
- If the screen stays blank, check the EDID or resolution setting before you suspect the cable.
See the full KVM extender range. If you tell us the distance, resolution and USB devices, we'll confirm the right model. Every order ships from Bengaluru with a GST invoice.