Are there any ways to share two touchscreen Planar Monitors between 2 computers?

[Telum Atramenti]

Hey guys. I am a nerd and a geek with two post-secondary educations, but I seem to have tremendous difficulty figuring this out, so I decided to ask my fellow geeks. Will get a bit technical so bear with me, please.

I'm using 2 Planar Helium 27 Inch monitors on my main PC. But I would love to be able to switch them to my music writing PC while having them retain the touch sensitive function. Back in the day there used to be switch boxes for regular monitors. Luckily I don't need anything like that because these monitors have PLENTY of inputs, - Display Port, HDMI, VGA, DVI, - so that part can easily be set up. Simply switch each monitor to a different input.

The difficult part is having them maintain touch sensitivity on BOTH computers. Couldn't care less otherwise, but some DAWs I'm using - touch sensitivity on those knobs and XYZ pads is paramount to live recording projects. Now, I could probably wire up a DIY box with a switch for 4 USB 3 cables. Toggle left - 2 USB monitor connections to my main desktop are engaged. Toggle right - they turn off and 2 other USB 3 monitor connections are engaged from my music writing desktop.

However, I would very much like to avoid this whole messy DIY affair and making the already short Planar USB 3 cables even shorter (yes they're the ones with that duplex rectangle connector). Is there anything like this available commercially? Doesn't have to be 2 and 2. Could simply be a box that switches from one USB port to another, and I'd buy 2 of them. Flick 2 switches, - change inputs on both monitors - and presto. IS there something like this and what would it be called? What should I look for? Any products like that you could recommend?

Very thankful for any advice you could give.

[Kilrah]

You're looking for a KVM switch.

[Telum Atramenti]

Thank you. Great to know. One issue I have is that the monitors seem to undergo hiccups when plugged into the same PC through a USB 3 hub but work just fine if plugged into separate USB 3 ports on PC. I looked for KVM and it seems like there are a number of different models. Is there a particular model you might suggest in my case? Thank you 

[Telum Atramenti]

There's this one. Figure I would have to get 2 of them just in case that hub hiccup issue. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B088FJP5HC/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B088FJP5HC&pd_rd_w=Alb5U&pf_rd_p=970b3512-1bd2-4757-829e-ab114c5ecd76&pd_rd_wg=bafuD&pf_rd_r=ZWPHBGETB24DHA64D4VY&pd_rd_r=0397f33f-5b76-4489-8260-2efdd5963e95&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNDBPOEpOME8xVjJXJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDE4MTc5UElYMUhaREhBSkZGJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxNTcxNDRTNFo5MEE5UTZXNTQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

My only worry is that it supplies enough power for the total length of USB 3 cables.  These monitors seem to require a lot, as longer cables failed to connect properly.

[LogicalDrm]

2 hours ago, Telum Atramenti said:

Thank you. Great to know. One issue I have is that the monitors seem to undergo hiccups when plugged into the same PC through a USB 3 hub but work just fine if plugged into separate USB 3 ports on PC. I looked for KVM and it seems like there are a number of different models. Is there a particular model you might suggest in my case? Thank you 

Level1 Tech:

https://store.level1techs.com/?category=Hardware

[GDRRiley]

level1techs should have a KVM switch that meets your needs

[Telum Atramenti]

OK, Thank you for all your help. Unfortunately I'm a little confused now, so I will answer to all 3 responders.

1. Hj_Wu: What are you saying? There is only one type of switch that will work for this? What is it? I Googled UR 12+ and all I see is USB-to-Audio interface. I'm not sure why I would need this. I only see UDD when I Google. Do you have a link perhaps?  My monitors have 4 connections to choose from VGA, DVI, Display port and HDMI, so I'm not sure why would there be a need for video signal splitting. Can't I just plug one PC into say HDMI and another into Display port? I have the 2 monitors connected through DVI and Display Port to my desktop which leaves plenty of ports for another desktop. Won't that work with just a USB 3 signal splitter?

2. Logical DM, GDRRiley. Thank you. But I looked at the link and they products in the photos appear ludicrously expensive, around $250-300. Won't it work with a cheaper product?  It seems to be just a straightforward USB signal wire splitter. Thanks. Hj_Wu seems to be saying that only one specific product will work. A little difficult to understand why straightforward splitting of the USB input would require some patented tech. Or is the issue due to Planar monitors having proprietary USB cables? They don't look like proprietary, and won't proprietary cables still terminate in exactly the same number of leads in the male end cable that plugs into desktop USB 3 ports?

Please bear with me, I just don't want to end up ordering something I would have to return later, mailing is really slow lately, while some places accept returns only for defective products.

 

[GoodBytes]

> Moved to Display <