best wireless kb+mouse for htpc?

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xorbe

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Bought a Logitech MK320 (www.amazon.com/dp/B003VAGXZC) for $30 ... advertised as up to 30 feet, doesn't even work 6 feet away with line-of-site and good batteries. The mouse kinda mostly works, the kb is a disaster.

Other choices that are known to work please? Thanks!!!
 
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Yeah that K400 uses the same "unifying receiver" as the K330 (from the MK320 combo) keyboard. The mouse works a lot better than the keyboard, so the K330 keyboard wireless send/receive must not work as well. What I have discovered is that this wireless (not ir!) needs line-of-sight! So I will get a 9' usb extension and tape the dongle receiver to the top of the tv, hopefully that works. Also that will get the usb receiver away from the metal wall that is the computer case.

I found one 5GHz wireless keyboard, the "Rapoo", but I don't want to order from China or put down that much money for an infrequently used item.
 
xorbe said:
Yeah that K400 uses the same "unifying receiver" as the K330 (from the MK320 combo) keyboard. The mouse works a lot better than the keyboard, so the K330 keyboard wireless send/receive must not work as well. What I have discovered is that this wireless (not ir!) needs line-of-sight! So I will get a 9' usb extension and tape the dongle receiver to the top of the tv, hopefully that works. Also that will get the usb receiver away from the metal wall that is the computer case.

I found one 5GHz wireless keyboard, the "Rapoo", but I don't want to order from China or put down that much money for an infrequently used item.
Click to expand...

Err... the logi unifying receiver is 2.4Ghz, you don't need line of sight.
What you do need is a decent signal as the transmitters aren't the most powerful, rather by design there.

aka: i've got a HTPC in the closet that I manage to use a K400 (great keyboard there) through a wall without any problems at all.
 
Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop (L5V-00001)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYX54C0/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
31rmocj19zL.jpg


I'm very impressed with this. We've bought three of these. The first one being used by the secretary -- results were incredible. CFO will be getting one of these kits too. I've got one at my desk and I love it. I will be purchasing one for myself at home.
 
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xorbe said:
Yeah that K400 uses the same "unifying receiver" as the K330 (from the MK320 combo) keyboard. The mouse works a lot better than the keyboard, so the K330 keyboard wireless send/receive must not work as well. What I have discovered is that this wireless (not ir!) needs line-of-sight! So I will get a 9' usb extension and tape the dongle receiver to the top of the tv, hopefully that works. Also that will get the usb receiver away from the metal wall that is the computer case.

I found one 5GHz wireless keyboard, the "Rapoo", but I don't want to order from China or put down that much money for an infrequently used item.
Click to expand...
I've used a variety of keyboards on my HTPC, all with the unified receiver, and have discovered that the orientation of the receiver make a big difference as well. My case has the USB port on the front face, so the unified receiver's top ("Logitech") is facing the couch. Poor signal. Choppy mouse and hit/miss keyboard. Then I mounted the unified receiver facing up (90* from it's original orientation when mounted directly in the case) and the performance was substantially better.

Try mounting the unified receiver into a USB port that is facing up (like a hub or extension that has a base on the female side, which is what I did).
 
FnordMan said:
Err... the logi unifying receiver is 2.4Ghz, you don't need line of sight.
Click to expand...

Right, except lots of reviews have discovered the same effect. I can't even place a half a bottle of Gatorade between the keyboard and receiver, lol. Talk about a weak signal. I tried different orientations already.

Yeah, I was eyeballing that exact MS product, because MS tends to stamp their name on at least half way decent hardware. If the relocating the unified receiver doesn't work to satisfaction, that's probably my next step.
 
FnordMan said:
Err... the logi unifying receiver is 2.4Ghz, you don't need line of sight.
What you do need is a decent signal as the transmitters aren't the most powerful, rather by design there.

aka: i've got a HTPC in the closet that I manage to use a K400 (great keyboard there) through a wall without any problems at all.
Click to expand...

I have a K400 as well, and in my experience the range is very finicky. It would work OK on our coffee table, but if I tried to sit back on the couch with the thing in my lap it would cut in and out. :p I ended up moving the receiver to a USB port on the front face of my HTPC and it seems to work better now. For reference, my HTPC is in an entertainment center with glass doors on the front and no back, and it is located about 10 feet from the couch.

Other than the potential range problem, the K400 is great for an HTPC.
 
Six foot usb extension cable + taping receiver pointed up at top rear corner of tv = working great now kicked back on the couch!
 
I am using Vectir PC Remote Control as a remote server and controlling from the associated Android PC remote app on my Galaxy S5. In my opinion this is better than a wireless keboard because you get live feeback directly to your phone or tablet. You can browse your HDD or playlists directly from your phone without having to be in viewable distance from your monitor. It comes with remotes configured for VLC, WMP, Winamp, iTunes, mouse, keyboard etc. Give it a go before forking out for a new wireless KB or mouse.
 
I use the K400 as well and I love it. I have the lenovo N5902 as well, and it works fine if you want that form factor.
 
I've used the K400, and I didn't like it all that much. The touchpad was kinda crap, the keyboard quality is SUPER cheap and felt like it might break if I sneezed on it, and the range was terrible.

I MUCH prefer my IOGear GKM561R:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...18&cm_re=iogear_gkm561-_-23-176-018-_-Product

It's far superior to the K400 if you are willing to use 2 hands on the keyboard. The build quality is way better than the K400, the trackball works fantastic (once broken in), it has a much more logical layout, and the range seems to be a bit longer than the K400 (especially with the receiver in front of the PC). Only thing I like about the K400 more than the IOGear is that the receiver is 1/3 as big.
 
I use one of these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008JGU3YA?cache=b3a6e213811e1a37b65d05154dc5a0a8&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1405978349&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

Probably could find it cheaper elsewhere. Comes in Bluetooth and 2.4ghz flavors.

Has some limitations because it lacks the function keys (F1 etc), but works remarkably well for basic web surfing. So long as you don't need to input too many special characters...

I like the backlit keys and the automatic off mode when the cover is closed. Very helpful when the dog wants to jump onto the couch and start snuggling (after walking over everything and everyone.)

Side note with the Logitech receiver. There seems to be a known issue using those receivers in USB 3.0 ports or adjacent 2.0 ports. Something with interference. Logitech recommends attaching the receiver to an extension cable (free if you are still in warranty). On the phone now so I can't link to the proper info).
 
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Yeah the latest Dinovo uses the unifying receiver instead of the original bluetooth. Everyone says the BT version was better.
 
I had to buy an extension cable for my K400 as well. It didn't work well on a front or back usb port. After the extension cable got the receiver away from the PC and AVR it has been working flawlessly
 
Although I've only seen it in the store I want to get the Logitech K810. Anyone have experience with it?
 
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btw, I have come to love the volume keys on the Logitech wireless KB ... so much faster than the TV remote lol, but that's more of a problem with my TV "volume curve" probably, and that it has like 100 steps that take forever to go up and down. I set TV to max and use the computer volume instead.

I hooked up my ms pc-xbox wireless controller that I forgot I bought a long time back, finally got to try it out with some steam games (rocking an msi 760 itx).
 
qbanb8582 said:
i've been using the logitech k400 for myh HTPC for a few years now. I mainly use it when I need to do things on my htpc thats not media related. It works for me I'm about 8 feet away from my HTPC.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Built-In-Multi-Touch/dp/B005DKZTMG
Click to expand...

This is what I use and I love it. Prior to that I had a wired keyboard and mouse that I kept hidden behind the TV...

I wouldn't go without the k400 anymore.

I love being able to hold it in both hands and using it as a mouse with my thumbs.
 
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