Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Sets which one?

[lmgtfy]

For a while we have been using Logitech MK250 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Sets which have been brilliant but now we can no longer get them.

 

We have bought some Logitech MK270 but they are rubbish in comparison. We have had a number of keys stop working, mice stop working but most of all the problem is the tiny little usb micro dongle they come with. This means the reception is rubbish, they barely work from a few meters away depending on room conditions and are generally unreliable.

 

We bought some Genius SlimStar 8000ME sets to try these but again they have the micro USB dongle and are much the same.

 

We are thinking about getting a Microsoft Wireless Desktop 800 set in to try which seems to have a slightly bigger dongle but just wanted to see what everyone else is using before wasting more money.

 

The main purpose will be for use with a desktop computer in a classroom where it needs to work at least 5-10 meters away from the computer or half way across the classroom roughly.

 

Any advice on good sets would be appreciated.

 

Cheers

[smithson83]

I tend to get the Logitech MK520's ~ £35, but I can only find them on Amazon. Have around 5 or so in school and bought one for home just last week, expecting delivery on Weds.

 

This msg is being typed on one

[lmgtfy]

Thanks @smithson83 do they come with the tiny usb dongle? and is there range any good?

[smithson83]

not sure about the range, but they do come with the tiny unifying receiver (a single one for both the keyboard and mouse)

 

I've tried the K330 and the MK260, both of which I didn't like, felt cheap and didn't come with the off switch (mouse did on the 330)

Edited February 23, 2015 by smithson83

[lmgtfy]

Thanks @smithson83 I like the MK520's but think they are going to be very much the same in range due to the micro dongle.

 

Can anyone else help?

[Joanne]

All Logitec products come with the micro dongle now... so probably avoid them.

 

When I saw the thread I was going to suggest Logitec... hah!

[smithson83]

What kind of range are you @lmgtfy looking for and in what conditions. just walked out of my office got to the life (9m away) and it worked fine. dongle if in the back of a tower unit on the floor in the corner of a room

 

EDIT: I could possibly test for you if you like

Edited February 24, 2015 by smithson83

[lmgtfy]

@smithson83 thats the problem really the range seems to be effected by a number of factors I can't work out. The MK250's used to work in the entire classroom all of the time in all rooms where as the MK270 seem OK sometimes and then at other times only work a few meters away. I put it down to the micro dongle because lets face it a dongle that small can't exactly have a big aerial but who knows it could be other factors like frequency or interference.

[Novalee]

Slightly off topic - but do you use these for student machines? Don't students 'acquire' them? We have to cable tie in our mice and keyboards - wireless would be lovely for cable management but not sure they would stay put.

[lmgtfy]

@Novalee no I have thought about it in the past but think even if you could put the USB dongle inside the students would have such fun switching the keyboards and mice around it would be pointless.