long range wireless mouse and keyboard needed for couch gaming. can't use wired due to room layout.

[remixedcat]

currently using a logitech mk270 and the range is terrible even w fresh batteries,
6 feet away and it often cuts out and it shouldn't...even have a usb3 add on card in the front of the case and it still acts up so it's not the system at all. it even gets crappy range in my office with the same dongle.

we need one with good range and under 60 bucks.

 

[Bill_Bright]

If you only get 6 feet of range then something else is the problem as even 1/2 way decent Bluetooth should get better than that - at least 20 feet with line of site. And while the MK270 is not exactly high end, it is not bottom tier either.

Since this seems to be a problem in your office too, then I suspect some EMI/RFI issue in your area - like a nearby cell phone tower, power substation, or faulty shielding on your refrigerator or the like.

You might have to increase your budget a bit.

I don't recommend specific keyboards and mice. The problem with human interface devices (HIDs), like mice and keyboards, is everyone has unique hands. What feels great in my hand or at the end of my fingertips may feel uncomfortable, awkward, or even painful to you.

The best anyone can give for advice is their impressions for tracking and construction/assembly quality, battery life (if wireless), warranty support, etc. How it feels is too subjective and individually personal.

You need to visit shops and electronics stores and go play touchy-feely with these devices yourself. Try to position them at the same height - in relation to your body – as they will be when at your desk. Remember display models may have been abused so some mechanical functions (buttons, wheels, keys, etc.) may not work properly.

Take a bottle of hand-sanitizer with you!

 

[eidairaman1]

Is your couch against a back wall or sidewall?

 

[remixedcat]

Is your couch against a back wall or sidewall?

Here's a layout of the room the pc is right next to the TV table on the floor



And we can't go wired I gotta walk in front of hubby to go to the kitchen which is thru the top right door..

And inb4 anyone with pressuring and selling me the wired solution...

Don't wanna have to adjust a lifestyle and rearrange my house to accommodate a wired mouse and keyboard lol that's way too big an ask lmao

Stepping over and possibly tripping over keyboard and mouse wires isn't good either... I'd have to do that every time I got off the couch and it would be chaos and hell

 

[Bill_Bright]

FTR, I would never suggest wired, except when sitting at a computer desk. Never in a living room environment. And even at a desk, I don't mind a wired keyboard as keyboards (at least my keyboards) tend not to move around. But I prefer a wireless mouse even when sitting at my desk as then there is no risk of the wire pulling on the mouse and moving the cursor, or getting tangled up in my feet.

With just 6 feet and line of sight between your keyboard/mouse the dongle sitting in front of the TV (and fresh batteries), I again think this must be an interference issue. Is the treadmill plugged in? Unplug it and any other electronics device in the area and see what happens.

Does the coffee table have a lot metal in it? If so, get rid of it - at least for testing purposes to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Vya Domus]

There aren't any, whether they use bluetooth or a dedicated dongle they will all struggle, the signals they use are just very weak and if they have to go trough anything solid it will affect the reception.

My suggestion is to use a long usb cable to extend the dongle and place it somewhere up high from which nothing could obstruct it's line of sight.

 

[remixedcat]

There aren't any, whether they use bluetooth or a dedicated dongle they will all struggle, the signals they use are just very weak and if they have to go trough anything solid it will affect the reception.

My suggestion is to use a long usb cable to extend the dongle and place it somewhere up high from which nothing could obstruct it's line of sight.

it's literally 5 feet away

 

[Bill_Bright]

There aren't any, whether they use bluetooth or a dedicated dongle they will all struggle, the signals they use are just very weak and if they have to go trough anything solid it will affect the reception.

Ummm, that's not true at all. I have several BT and RF devices here that easily get 30 feet or more range and longer. In fact, when I have to change the batteries in this keyboard, I have to take it into my dining room, a good 30 feet and two walls away just to ensure I don't type a page of vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv and dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz while changing the batteries.

it's literally 5 feet away

And direct line-of-sight - the signal it not going through anything, let alone something solid.

 

[eidairaman1]

Here's a layout of the room the pc is right next to the TV table on the floor

View attachment 364383

And we can't go wired I gotta walk in front of hubby to go to the kitchen which is thru the top right door..

And inb4 anyone with pressuring and selling me the wired solution...

Don't wanna have to adjust a lifestyle and rearrange my house to accommodate a wired mouse and keyboard lol that's way too big an ask lmao

Stepping over and possibly tripping over keyboard and mouse wires isn't good either... I'd have to do that every time I got off the couch and it would be chaos and hell

Ok from shared experience as a former Uverse Premesis Tech (2013-2014) for AT&T

When you wrote the word right, it is physically on the right correct?

Do you have carpet or hard floor?

 

[remixedcat]

Yes and hardwood

Can't do wired and the couch is just 5 ft away from the pc


I don't know why these companies claim up to 33 ft range and they can't even work 5 ft away!! Ugh

 

[eidairaman1]

Yes and hardwood

Can't do wired and the couch is just 5 ft away from the pc


I don't know why these companies claim up to 33 ft range and they can't even work 5 ft away!! Ugh

Just think about what I'm going to share as a former prem tech.

The most expensive is a wire drop in the wall.

Now from experience I used to do wire wrap on walls just above the baseboard whether to place a modem or an ethernet line to a spot. If there was carpet I would tuck it in, not on the tackstrip ofc.

I sometimes used an antisnag/trip strip in shops.

In your image, you can run from the pc, behind the tv and the table with switch behind the couch to basically center of it, use an anti snag/trip strip to your coffee table.

There are kvm extenders that run off of cat5+ cabling.

You might consider reading through these links.

Use one cable to connect all IO devices

I have my main pc tower in a room and I would like to have my "monitor/mouse/keyboard/usb hub/sound output" to a different room which is 10 meters away (32 ft). Is it possible to use just one cable

superuser.com

How does Ethernet to USB work?

So I just came across this device: There's even pictures of people hacking their own together: How does this work? Does it require drivers or a specific OS? If not, how is the USB protocol sent ...

superuser.com

USB Over Ethernet: The Most Powerful System You Aren't Using

USB Over Ethernet lets you share USB devices across multiple computers using Ethernet. Here's everything you need to know.

www.makeuseof.com

What Is USB over Ethernet? What Can It be Used for? - MiniTool

USB over Ethernet lets you share USB devices between multiple computers using Ethernet. If you want to get more details, this post provides them for you.

www.minitool.com

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/zukz44

Keyboard, Video and Mouse extenders (USB & VGA)

Extend USB Keyboards and Mice & VGA Monitors

www.kvmswitchdirect.co.uk

Extend USB over Ethernet: Hardware Guide

In this article, we’re going to have a proper look at the USB extension gadgets, tools, and methods today’s market has to offer. You’ll find out a lot more about different adapters, wires, cables, and habs, as well as some typical bottlenecks to watch out for.

www.flexihub.com

Otherwise you may consider these items.

Logitech

Logitech Amazon Store

www.amazon.com

That is all I really have. The advantage is reduced latency using a wire, but you can also paint white eethernet cabling to match your walls

 

[remixedcat]

That would end up being pricier than a wireless mouse and keyboard and more effort

I'm simply wanting a wireless mouse and keyboard that works at least to 15 ft without cutting out its not a huge ask from a hardware manufacturer...

It's gotta be under 60 bucks and not much effort

 

[JWNoctis]

I used to face the very same issue with my own living room setup, and could second the advice of putting absolutely nothing between the devices and the receiver.

Not the flat-panel TV, not the bowl of snacks, not even the remote, and certainly not the computer itself. Anything and it drops out in the RF environment these days. There is little to be done, except for maybe an USB hub on extension cable, mounted away from the case and out of the way with unbroken line of sight to your keyboard & mouse. Hopefully that would be enough.

 

[eidairaman1]

That would end up being pricier than a wireless mouse and keyboard and more effort

I'm simply wanting a wireless mouse and keyboard that works at least to 15 ft without cutting out its not a huge ask from a hardware manufacturer...

It's gotta be under 60 bucks and not much effort

I did have 1 last link for logitech extenders

 

[remixedcat]

I did have 1 last link for logitech extenders

It's connected to the front of the case allready (antec three hundred) receiver facing towards the couch.

 

[JWNoctis]

It's connected to the front of the case allready (antec three hundred) receiver facing towards the couch.

Large metal objects, like the case, can do interesting things to signal strength and propagation. Try a hub.

 

[AusWolf]

If you only get 6 feet of range then something else is the problem as even 1/2 way decent Bluetooth should get better than that - at least 20 feet with line of site. And while the MK270 is not exactly high end, it is not bottom tier either.

Agreed. I've got the exact same keyboard/mouse combo for my HTPC with a similar room layout as OP, and I don't have any issue with range. The only thing is that plugging the receiver into the front panel is a must.

 

[remixedcat]

Agreed. I've got the exact same keyboard/mouse combo for my HTPC with a similar room layout as OP, and I don't have any issue with range. The only thing is that plugging the receiver into the front panel is a must.

And that's what I do

 

[AusWolf]

And that's what I do

Then I have no idea why your range is soo poor, unfortunately.

 

[remixedcat]

Then I have no idea why your range is soo poor, unfortunately.

Yes and that's why I'm looking for one w better range

 

[Lost_Troll]

es and that's why I'm looking for one w better range

I am using a Logitech K4000 keyboard that is a bit further than your setup and it works fine, so my bust guess is the keyboard you have has an issue. Did you try another make of wireless keyboard and mouse combo?

You could also get a USB male to female cable and plug the unified receiver in that and run it closer to you when you use the keyboard-mouse setup you have now.

 

[Caring1]

Avoid Bluetooth as I found the range is shorter.
Sorry I don't have any suggested brand, I had used keyboards and mice in a similar setting and had no issue with a HTPC.

 

[nomdeplume]

Sounds like you need to get a USB A -> USB A extender cord of indeterminate length that allows you to mount the receiver with the broadcasting side (typically the bottom) FACING your couch.

Used to have a very tech smart friend who was having fits trying to figure out why his wireless keyboard with trackpad didn't work 15' away on his couch. Happened to have a few inch extender cord on me (massive rubberized USB stick + poor USB layout on laptop) that solved the issue immediately.

 

[Vayra86]

Here's a layout of the room the pc is right next to the TV table on the floor

View attachment 364383

And we can't go wired I gotta walk in front of hubby to go to the kitchen which is thru the top right door..

And inb4 anyone with pressuring and selling me the wired solution...

Don't wanna have to adjust a lifestyle and rearrange my house to accommodate a wired mouse and keyboard lol that's way too big an ask lmao

Stepping over and possibly tripping over keyboard and mouse wires isn't good either... I'd have to do that every time I got off the couch and it would be chaos and hell

And where exactly is the dongle positioned? Front panel or backside of the PC?

Of course, you want it in front panel, or the signal has no line of sight and straight line is passing through shielded EMI boxes.

And that's what I do

Nvm didnt read yet

 

[kilo]

Can you attempt to use a USB 3.0 port from your I/O and not the USB 2.0 port on the front panel?