DIY PiKVM V1 Instructions

!!! tip "So many choices!" There are many different options with sub-items, so you can choose what will suit you.
However, we marked the recommended way by sign ✮ ✮ ✮

Required parts

MicroSD card minimum 8Gb class 10.
Official USB-Micro Power Supply.
Raspberry Pi board:
- ✮ ✮ ✮ Raspberry Pi 3.
- ... or Raspberry Pi 2.
  Does not support H.264 even with HDMI-CSI bridge.
- ... or Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.
  Compact and cheap, but not so reliable solution because of lack of the wired Ethernet. Note that the better way to use Pi Zero is making PiKVM V2 - it supports more USB features.
Video capture device:
- ✮ ✮ ✮ HDMI-CSI bridge based on TC358743 chip.
  Supports H.264 video encoding on Raspberry Pi 3, automatic resolution selection and the lowest possible latency.
- ... or HDMI-USB dongle.
  Only heavy MJPEG video, no resolution detection, big latency compared to HDMI-CSI. Some users report hardware problems: the dongle may not work in the BIOS or simply stop working after a while. It's a black box, and no one knows what's inside it. If you have problems with it, it will not be possible to fix them.
The Pico HID Keyboard & mouse emulator:

{!_pico_hid_parts.md!}

Board-specific parts:

!!! success "✮ ✮ ✮ "Nothing special for Raspberry Pi 2 or 3"

??? note "Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W"

 ??? note "✮ ✮ ✮ HDMI-CSI bridge"

     * *x1* [Raspberry Pi Zero Camera Cable](https://www.amazon.com/Arducam-Raspberry-Camera-Ribbon-Extension/dp/B085RW9K13). *Not compatible with Auvidea B101*.

 ??? note "... or HDMI-USB dongle"

     * *x1* USB-A socket to USB-Micro adapter (female-male).

Optional features:

??? success "✮ ✮ ✮ ATX controller to manage the target host's power"

 {!_diy_parts_atx.md!}

??? note "PS/2 Keyboard & mouse"

 The use of PS/2 is intended for advanced users. Check out the additional list of details in advance
 in the [corresponding paragraph](pico_hid.md#ps2-keyboard-mouse) of the Pico HID manual.

??? note "VGA video capture"

 If you want to capture VGA from your server instead of HDMI,
 buy the [VGA-to-HDMI converter](https://aliexpress.com/item/3256801728005613.html).
 Some converters have issues with not supporting all resolutions and refresh rates.

Setting up the hardware

Video capture device:

??? success "✮ ✮ ✮ HDMI-CSI bridge"

 {!_diy_setup_video_csi.md!}

??? note "... or HDMI-USB dongle"

 ??? note "Raspberry Pi 2 & 3"

     {!_diy_setup_video_usb.md!}

 ??? note "Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W"

     Connect the USB dongle to USB-to-Micro adapter, and connect it to the USB port marked as `USB` (not `PWR`)
     on the Pi Zero board:

     <img src="../_diy/usbcap_zero2w.jpg" width="400"/>

The Pico HID and ATX controller:

Connect all the parts according to this scheme:

??? success "✮ ✮ ✮ With ATX controller"

 ??? example "Simple wiring diagram"
     <img src="../v1/v1_breadboard.png" />

 ??? example "Electrical schematic diagram for advanced users"
     <a target="_blank" href="../v1/v1_scheme.png"><img src="../v1/v1_scheme.png" /></a>

??? note "... or without ATX controller"

 ??? example "Simple wiring diagram"
     <img src="../pico_hid/basic_breadboard.png" />

 ??? example "Electrical schematic diagram for advanced users"
     <img src="../pico_hid/basic_scheme.png" />

Flash firmware to the Pico HID.

Wiring with the target host

Connect the HDMI video capture device to the video output port on the target host.
Connect the Pico HID to the USB port on the target host.
??? example "Connect the ATX controller if you built it"
```
 {!_diy_wiring_atx.md!}
```

Video modes

PiKVM V2 with CSI bridge can only handle the maximum resolution 1920x1080@50Hz, 60Hz is not supported due hardware limitation. You can use any other resolution less than the specified one, for example 8120x720@60Hz.

If you have any problems with video on CSI bridge, follow this guide.

First launch and usage

{!_diy_first_launch.md!}

4.8 KiB Raw Blame History