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Switch KVM/Multi-viewer for Police and Fire Dispatch Desk

Discussion in 'KVM' started by Phillip Austin, Feb 3, 2026.

  1. Phillip Austin

    Phillip Austin New member

    I am looking for recommendations for a KVM multi-viewer for a Police and Fire dispatch station.

    We need to support 5 or more computers and 8 displays.

    It would be nice but not critical to include displays driven by VMs.

    We would like to use 2 large 4K monitors and a single mouse and keyboard.

    The Black Box Emerald system looks like it would work but is beyond our budget. We would like to keep the cost for a station including the monitors below $7K.
     
    Phillip Austin, Feb 3, 2026
    #1 + Quote Reply
  2. KVMGalore Expert

    KVMGalore Expert Staff Member

    Hello Phillip,

    Thank you for reaching out on our HelpCenter.

    We have some questions that need to be clarified before we can address the issues you brought up:

    A Multiviewer (AKA multiview switch or split-screen switch) is a switch that simultaneously displays video from multiple sources on one screen.
    1) Based on your requirement to use multiple displays - we're not sure a Multiviewer is the solution you're looking for. Please advise.

    2) How many computers are you looking to support? Please advise.

    3) We are confused by this - How many displays are you looking to support? Please advise.

    4) Please provide a part/model number so that we can research this compatibility for you.

    5) Are you looking to have each of your computers connected to a screen and constantly displaying its video on that screen regardless of which computer you are controlling through the switch at any given time? Please advise.

    Awaiting your responses.

    Important note: To continue this discussion - please respond via KVMGalore HelpCenter thread, NOT via e-mail.
     
    KVMGalore Expert, Feb 8, 2026 at 12:20 PM
    #2 + Quote Reply
  3. Phillip Austin

    Phillip Austin New member

    1) It's possible I am not using the right terminology. We currently have 8 physical 1920x1080 monitors driven by 4 computers. Each computer has a mouse and keyboard. We are about to add a 5th computer that will need 2 displays. Fitting 2 more physical monitors in each station will be difficult. What we want to do is put 2 4K monitors replacing the existing physical monitors in each station and divide the 4K monitors to display what are now on 6 and soon to be 8 physical monitors.

    2) We need to support 5 computers immediately. We may need to add more in the future, so we don't want to start with a system that is maxed out. I doubt we will have more than 8 computers per station.

    3) I think my answer to #1 clarifies this.

    4) The quote we received from Black Box included parts: BXAMGR-R2, EMD5104-R, EMD4000T

    5) The display output(s) from each computer need to be visible at all times.

    We like the functionality shown in this video: Public Safety and Emergency Operations
    The quote for this from Blackbox was about $22k which we cannot afford. We do not necessarily need all of the functionality of the Emerald system. The computers are all local to the dispatch stations, and we do not currently have any dispatch apps running on remote systems or VMs, so we don't necessarily need a solution that runs over IP today. We are hoping to find something that will cover our needs today and be expandable.
     
    Phillip Austin, Feb 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
    #3 + Quote Reply
  4. KVMGalore Expert

    KVMGalore Expert Staff Member

    Hello Phillip,

    Thank you for your feedback.

    It turns out your are using the term Multiviewer correctly, only that you're looking to view the video from all computers on two screens (instead of the typical one screen).

    Atypical indeed, nonetheless we'd like you to check out AdderView CCS-MV 4228 which supports up to 8 computers, and can multi-view the video from the computers on two screens.

    Hope this helps!
    We welcome your questions - please come back and ask us anything, anytime. You may also give us a call at 1-800-636-3434 for further clarifications on this thread.

    Important note: To continue this discussion - please respond via KVMGalore HelpCenter thread, NOT via e-mail.
     
    KVMGalore Expert, Feb 10, 2026 at 9:47 AM
    #4 + Quote Reply
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