Re: Which USB hub

On Sun, 27 Jul 2008, Johannes Beekhuizen wrote:

Hallo All,

Due to lack of USB connectors, I'm thinking about buying
an USB hub.
Questions:
Which brand? [The most easily availale here are Belkin,
Sitecom and Trust].
How many ports? [I there any reason not to buy a 7 port
one]?
With or without power supply?
Any other remarks are also welcome, of course :)

I got tired of unplugging something when I needed to use
something else, so I knew it was time to go beyond the two
built in USB ports my computer has.

But as I was waiting for a hub to go on sale, I likely would
have bought the cheapest when it went on sale, I came across
a computer lying on the sidewalk waiting for the garbage truck.

The computer wasn't worth mentioning, but it did have a USB card
in it. Brought it home, and it worked fine. Gave me four more
USB ports, and I think a fifth for internal use (I've never tried it).
Even said "USB 2.0" on it so I'm assuming it is indeed as fast
as I can get.

I had the spare PCI slot for it, so it seemed to be a far better
choice than plugging a hub into one of the existing USB ports. The
existing two ports remain, rather than having to use one to feed
the external USB hub.

Since power has to come from somewhere, the power for the USB ports
must come from the computer's power supply, so I don't have to fuss
with another adaptor, and there will be more than enough current.

The one thing about the external USB port was that on the end of a cable it would be more accessible than the ports on the card that require
me to reach the back of the computer. That was solved in part by a USB
extension cord (actualy it's just a cable off something I'm no longer
using) that I've just brought from the back of the computer to the front
of the desk, so I always have access to one USB port without fussing
at the back of the computer. That works, since I can keep my scanner and
webcam and card reader each plugged into the back of the computer, and then have the cable for USB drives and my MP3 players.

Obviously, I never did any decision making before I put the card in. It
works fine with the Linux distribution I'm using, and I didn't have to
do a thing to get it to work.

Oddly, about a month ago, I came across another computer on the sidewalk
and that too had a USB card. Looks about the same, so I can even put
USB in my previous computer (that didn't have it at all).

I'm certain one can still buy such cards.

Michael

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: USB Ports: Front, Rear, on Monitor
    ... Where, if any, are USB hubs used on my XPS Gen4 and 1905 flat panel ... which of the available USB ports on my PC can be directly ... So connecting any device directly to your XPS front or back should be ... I will stay clear of the monitor's USB hub ports. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Cpq Presario 906
    ... which comes w/o the internal FDD. ... Buying a $15 USB FDD should do the trick. ... USB ports, which are occupied already by other devices. ... another source of power. ...
    (comp.sys.laptops)
  • Re: USB questions
    ... thinking about this these USB ... voltage to the card bus is, but if 3.3v as you say it is doubtful the ... card) are typically used for power IN, not power out as was stated ... with using two USB ports while it's "spinning up" and then unplugging ...
    (comp.sys.laptops)
  • RE: Computer unstable - power issues, or USB problems?
    ... I recently installed a USB PCI hub card ... The nature of the problem is that the computer resets itself at random ... its power from the USB hub, and if it is taking a great deal of power it ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Installing Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI Host Card: D.I.D. (Damsel in D
    ... the original USB ports are near the top of the chassis. ... I guess it is possible that she added a PCI card to get ... my completely patched XP Pro did not find my USB 2.0 PCI card and I ... and I don't think the new USB ports show up on the Universal ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)