How Beacon KVM compares
The other IP KVMs people are considering, side by side.
| Beacon KVM | JetKVM | PiKVM V4 | TinyPilot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $69 | ~$200–400+ | ~$200+ |
| Remote access | Built in, free | Optional cloud | DIY (VPN / port forward) | No built-in |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 (automation extra) |
| BIOS-level access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video | 1080p60, H.264 + MJPEG | 1080p60, H.264 | 1920×1200 60Hz | 1080p |
| Ethernet ports | 4 (2× 2.5G + 2× 1G) | 1 | 1–2 | 1 |
| ATX power control | Not yet (on roadmap) | Via extension board | Yes | Partial |
| SSH root access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Setup time | 5 minutes | ~5 minutes | 15–30 minutes | ~5 minutes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Free software option | Raspberry Pi 4B | No | DIY HAT | No |
Where Beacon wins: Remote access works out of the box — no VPN, no port forwarding, no cloud dependency. Four Ethernet ports where competitors have one. Free software on a Raspberry Pi 4B. Full SSH root.
Where Beacon doesn't (yet): No ATX power control — you can't remotely power-cycle a machine. If that's a must-have, PiKVM or JetKVM with the ATX board is the better fit today. We're working on it.
What's in the box
| Beacon KVM device | 1 |
| USB HDMI capture card | 1 — MS2130, USB 3.0, packed separately |
| HDMI cable | 1 — 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| USB-C cable | 1 — USB-A to USB-C, 1 m (3.3 ft), data |
| Network cable | 1 — 1.5 m (5 ft) |
| Power adapter | 1 — 12 V 2 A, 100–240 V, US / UK / EU plug |
Device
| Processor | Rockchip RK3568, 4 × Cortex-A55 at 2 GHz |
| Video | Hardware H.264 encoding, 1080p up to 60 fps |
| Network | 2 × 2.5 Gigabit, 2 × Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB | 1 × USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 × USB-C |
| Power | 12 V ⎓ 2 A |
| Operating system | Linux. You get root over SSH |
| Dimensions | 150 × 60 × 20 mm (5.9 × 2.4 × 0.8 in) |
| Weight | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
Capture card
| Chipset | MS2130 |
| Input | HDMI, up to 4K30 |
| Capture | Up to 1080p60 |
| Interface | USB 3.0 Type-A |
| Driver | None — UVC class |
Setting it up
- Fit the capture card. It travels loose in the box. It goes in the blue USB 3.0 socket on the back — the black one next to it is USB 2.0 and will cap the picture near 10 frames a second.
- HDMI from the computer to the capture card. Use an output the computer is actually driving. An unused output looks exactly like a machine that is switched off.
- USB-C from the device to that same computer. A USB socket on the computer itself, not on its monitor — monitor sockets are usually dead or charge-only.
- Network cable to your router. Any of the four sockets.
- Power on. Give it half a minute.
- Scan the code on the label to add it to your account, then open it from your browser.
Shipping
Ships within 3 business days, tracked, worldwide.
Duties and taxes are included in the price. Nothing to pay on delivery.
Returns
30 days. Original packaging, return shipping paid by you.
Warranty
12 months. If it fails, email us — most problems are diagnosed remotely, and if it really is the device we'll replace it.
Contact
support@beacon-kvm.com
Documentation: doc.beacon-kvm.com
Buying
Does Beacon KVM need a subscription?
No. Remote access is included for the life of the device. There is no monthly fee, no cloud dependency, and no plan to introduce one. The same software also runs free on a Raspberry Pi 4B.
What does it cost to ship, and are there import duties?
Ships within 3 business days, tracked, worldwide. Duties and taxes are included in the price — nothing to pay on delivery.
What's the warranty and return policy?
12-month warranty. If the device fails, email support@beacon-kvm.com — most issues are diagnosed remotely, and if it's a hardware fault we'll replace it. Returns within 30 days, original packaging required, return shipping paid by you.
How it works
How does the remote access work without a VPN?
Beacon makes an outbound connection to our relay servers. When you open the device in your browser, your session is routed through the same relay. This means no inbound ports need to be opened on your network — it works behind NAT, CGNAT, and restrictive firewalls.
Can I use it on my LAN only, without internet?
Yes. Beacon works on your local network with no internet connection. Remote access over the internet is optional — if your network is isolated, you can still access it via its local IP address.
What resolution and latency can I expect?
Beacon captures at up to 1080p60 with H.264 and MJPEG encoding. Typical latency on a local network is 30–60ms. Over the internet, latency depends on your connection but is typically 50–150ms — enough for BIOS navigation, typing, and most recovery tasks.
Is it secure?
Beacon uses encrypted connections for all remote access. You authenticate via your account, and the video/input stream is routed through our relay. The device also has a built-in firewall. For maximum security, you can use it on your LAN only and block internet access entirely.
What it can and can't do
Does it support ATX power control (remote power on/off)?
Not yet. ATX power control is on our roadmap. Currently, Beacon can control keyboard and mouse at BIOS level but cannot power-cycle a machine remotely. If this is a dealbreaker, email support@beacon-kvm.com and we'll let you know as soon as it ships.
Can I control multiple machines?
Beacon controls one machine at a time (one HDMI + one USB connection). To manage multiple machines, you can use a USB HDMI switch in front of Beacon. Multi-host switching is on our roadmap.
Does it work with VGA or DVI instead of HDMI?
Beacon takes HDMI input. For VGA or DVI machines, use an active VGA-to-HDMI or DVI-to-HDMI adapter — these are widely available and inexpensive. The capture card accepts any HDMI signal regardless of its source.
Software and hardware
Can I run custom software on it?
Yes. Beacon runs Linux and you get root SSH access. Install packages, run scripts, customize whatever you want. The software is also open source and runs on a Raspberry Pi 4B.
What if I already have a Raspberry Pi 4B?
You can run the Beacon software on it for free. You'll need to supply your own Pi, capture card, and cables. The main differences from the Beacon device: the hardware is pre-assembled and tested, the picture quality is optimized, and remote access is guaranteed to work out of the box. See our GitHub for setup instructions.
Does it work with macOS, Windows, and Linux?
Yes. Beacon works at the hardware level — it captures HDMI and emulates a USB keyboard and mouse. The target machine's operating system doesn't matter. It works with macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, BSD, and anything else that drives an HDMI output and accepts USB input.
Shipping, returns and warranty are also under . All questions →