Wireless Keyboard with touchpad.... how to improve range?

[Lurking]

I have had two wireless Logitech K400R for many years. I use them about 10-15ft from the USB dongle in a living room situation. However, due to the way my PCs are set up, the dongle doesn't face me directly, but it is 90° from facing me. so i "see" the side of the dongle and in some situation it could be shielded from the user. It "kind" of still has line of sight. This being radio and not IR, this should NOT matter. But for both keyboards and PCs, I have to lift the keyboard from my lap and face it directly the dongle. 

 

I was hoping newer version can be better, but the Current version the K400Plus seems to use the same 2.4GHz and lists the same 10m range. it looks like they just updated the plastic body. Ideally I don't buy (otherwise fine) keyboards if they are likely to have the same problem.

 

I realize the 33ft is for ideal conditions, but we shouldn't have problems at under 15ft. I don't know what they exactly market this for, but living room setups seems to be a prime use for keyboard with touchpad. Yes, I frequently put in new batteries "just in case". I don't know if they could have aged due to degrading capacitors or so. the PCs in question use i7 6700 and i7 7700K with 16GB and idle around and just stream YT or Netflix etc. So it isn't a PC issue. Both use W11. 

 

Is there anything that could improve this or a similar keyboard that is less fuzzy at the listed range? Those computers don't have BT, so Ideally something that comes with their own wireless USB.

 

I recently bought their wireless MX mouse and it works perfectly, but that is only 3 ft from the USB dongle. 

[PDifolco]

You can use any usb hub to put the dongle in the right direction I suppose

[Lurking]

6 hours ago, PDifolco said:

You can use any usb hub to put the dongle in the right direction I suppose

Good suggestion. I found a USB-A extension cable (with male and female) and placed the USB-dongle facing me. 

 

That worked much better when I tried at under 10ft. Only time it didn't work was when I had my legs in an angle so they were in the line of sight. I can live with that. 

 

I do realize when they say 33ft range, it would be less if there are walls etc. But I would expect it to work a bit better even with some organic material (not metal) like my legs in the way. In real life situations you could have a piece of furniture etc. blocking line of sight. Ironically this wireless device needs an extra cable. Contradicts one advantage of wireless devices that promise to reduce clutter

[digitalscream]

Totally anecdotal, but I've generally found that wireless devices (particularly Bluetooth, but also 2.4GHz to a lesser extent) always seem to have better signal and range when they're run off USB 2.0 ports. It even works running a USB 2.0 hub off a USB 3.x port.

 

I have absolutely no documentary evidence for it, but it might be worth a shot if you've got any such ports available.

[Monkey Dust]

Have you tried new batteries in it?

[Lurking]

2 hours ago, Monkey Dust said:

Have you tried new batteries in it?

Yes, multiple batteries and recharged

8 hours ago, digitalscream said:

Totally anecdotal, but I've generally found that wireless devices (particularly Bluetooth, but also 2.4GHz to a lesser extent) always seem to have better signal and range when they're run off USB 2.0 ports. It even works running a USB 2.0 hub off a USB 3.x port.

 

I have absolutely no documentary evidence for it, but it might be worth a shot if you've got any such ports available.

I had similar issues with USB3 in older systems and USB2 often worked better. Like OS Installation or Phone connection only worked on USB2.

 

But for this system either USB works equally. Actually the MB Back only had USB3. I had to try a sole front USB2. Same result 

 

But trying today works a bit better "through my legs" than yesterday regardless of USB type. So, this probably is just what it is. Moving the dongle so it faces me definitely helped a lot