Version: 1.4.2 (using KDE 3.3.2, (3.1)) Compiler: gcc version 3.3.5 (Debian 1:3.3.5-13) OS: Linux (i686) release 2.6.12-xenu If I login from OSX using nxclient '+' and '*' switch tabs in konsole instead entering + and *. Other applications don't have this problem and xev shows the correct events for these.
Why are you using such an old KDE version? Try a KDE 3.5.x please.
With RHEL 4 and FreeNX, I had the same problem. If you disable the shortcuts for Next and Previous tab, the keys get through correctly.