USB hubs

[stevo1210]

I'm having a problem choosing a decent quality USB hub. Basically I bought an iMac recently and I've run out of USB ports, so now I need a hub! I usually use the hub to plug in my camera, card reader and flash drives... usually simultaneously. That's about 3 to 4 devices (sometimes more), most of which are passively powered. What I want to know is... will I need an AC adaptor powered USB hub? I'm more concerned about frying the USB ports on my mac due to over current issues...

[stevo1210]

Re: USB hubs

I should also add, I only want BRAND NAME hubs, like Belkin, D-link, Logitech or Targus. I have this cringing feeling that a $3 no name hub with a crappy power supply or the like might fry something!

[ratdude747]

Re: USB hubs

agreed, noname hubs suck. bad.

find one on clearance...

bekin hubs aren't bad- I used to use a 7 port belkin hub with my imac before the imac went into semi-temporary storage.

targus hubs are decent but way overpriced... plus they are more for laptops, not desktops.

for non-laptop use, find a powered hub or one that offers a power port (most do) and add a 5v brick.

try to let high data devices (external drives, newer webcams, etc) not use the hub. hubs slow down traffic.

[dumpystig]

Re: USB hubs

I have a several D-Link products and I would recommend any of them, but do not get the DUB-H7 Powered Hub unless you're into bright illuminations!!! I recently sold mine (practically unused) as it had 8 LED's -1x Power, 7x Port Status - that lit as soon as power was applied and stayed lit until you removed power. You could be forgiven for expecting these so-called Port Status indicators to light up when a device was connected or flash with activity, but they all light up bright green regardless. You could hide the thing in a drawer but that would defeat the object of accessability. And it's pig-ugly too.

[shovenose]

Re: USB hubs

I've had bad luck wth both Belkin USB2.0 hubs I've used... and have had great results with generic ones! I bought 7 noname 4-port ones (yes, at once), they were like $1.99 apiece or something, and over timewhen I used them, not a single known failure that I am aware of (they are no longer in my posession because I gave them to people who needed them...

[stevo1210]

Re: USB hubs

I got a Belkin USB hub today. It's the Hub-to-go where you can split it from 7 to 4 USB ports... and I've got a problem. The PSU buzzes when I plug it into the wall but it works fine other than that. Do you guys think Belkin will even fix that type of problem? It does say "lifetime warranty" on the box...

[dumpystig]

Re: USB hubs

Heh, the D-Link brick was silent...
That was the only good thing about it.

Some adapters do make a slight hum/buzz, I suppose it depends if it's loud enough to annoy you? The shop you got it from should exchange it for you if you're not happy.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: USB hubs

Belkin doesn't manufacture, they OEM.
At least some of Belkin's products are just custom packaged Chinese junk.
Basically the same deal as a 'House Brand' generic like 'Rocketfish' at Best Buy.
The 'guts' are the same as you'd get buying from a no-name in China.
- Yet, some of their other products are really good.
You just have to pay attention.
.
They are also scumbags the same way Antec is. - Read "Criticism".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belkin
.
.
You JUST bought it. - Take it back where you got it.
.

[mariushm]

Re: USB hubs

In answer to original question... you should get an USB hub that comes with separate AC adapter - that's a sign that the thing has at least some circuitry inside to power each usb jack from the adapter instead of sucking power just from the incoming port.

Most hubs will come with an AC adapter rated for 5v @ 2-3 Amps, in which case you can just use the power from the computer - you take the red and black pair of cables from a hard drive jack and you have 5 volts.

If the AC adapter is rated for more, like 7.5v or 9v, it's almost 100% sure it has some dc converter inside, so you'll probably be able to power it from 12v as well, but it's probably going to heat up a lot.

You're in Australia so I don't really know what works for you... in US i see these rated pretty well :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182057

later edit: i don't know how it is on Macs but on PC some motherboards power at least a couple of ports in the back straight from 5Vsb, which on some power supplies is very low, usually 1-1.5 Amps. So you don't want to plug 3-4 devices and have the usb hub pull that much power from 5Vsb as it would probably be unstable, with lots of ripple, if you go over 1-1.5 amps.

[stevo1210]

Re: USB hubs

You JUST bought it. - Take it back where you got it.

I bought it on the way home from the coast. About 150KMs kilometres up north. NO WAY am I driving back up there just to return this.
I did call them and they said to bring it in "in person", I asked if I could courier it in and they said no. great.

I will contact Belkin tomorrow and see what solutions they have for me

[stevo1210]

Re: USB hubs

Heh, the D-Link brick was silent...
That was the only good thing about it.

Some adapters do make a slight hum/buzz, I suppose it depends if it's loud enough to annoy you? The shop you got it from should exchange it for you if you're not happy.

I can hear this buzz from across the room. I don't think that's normal at all.

[ratdude747]

Re: USB hubs

Belkin doesn't manufacture, they OEM.
At least some of Belkin's products are just custom packaged Chinese junk.
Basically the same deal as a 'House Brand' generic like 'Rocketfish' at Best Buy.
The 'guts' are the same as you'd get buying from a no-name in China.
- Yet, some of their other products are really good.
You just have to pay attention.
.
They are also scumbags the same way Antec is. - Read "Criticism".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belkin
.
.
You JUST bought it. - Take it back where you got it.
.

well, considering that the belkin wireless cards and the dynex (Best buy's other house brand) cards looked identical, im not surprised.

The only Belkin I have had that wasn't a turd is the wireless N router i recently got at goodwill for $3... unlike the last belkin router, this one doesn't want to overheat and die like the other one did... then again, its only used as a switch/AP (DHCP off).

[PCBONEZ]

Re: USB hubs

I can hear this buzz from across the room. I don't think that's normal at all.

You're right. It's not.
.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: USB hubs

well, considering that the belkin wireless cards and the dynex (Best buy's other house brand) cards looked identical, im not surprised.

The only Belkin I have had that wasn't a turd is the wireless N router i recently got at goodwill for $3... unlike the last belkin router, this one doesn't want to overheat and die like the other one did... then again, its only used as a switch/AP (DHCP off).

I have some older Belkin KVM's that are decent but, except maybe for cables, I don't really consider their newer stuff.
.

[stevo1210]

Re: USB hubs

I have some older Belkin KVM's that are decent but, except maybe for cables, I don't really consider their newer stuff.
.

Do any companies out there bother to make decent stuff these days? it'd be good to know they still care about us

[ratdude747]

Re: USB hubs

Do any companies out there bother to make decent stuff these days? it'd be good to know they still care about us

yes, but be prepared to pay $$$$$

sometimes you get what you pay for.

[stevo1210]

Re: USB hubs

Okay, Belkin today said (after some long hours of "technical support") they will send me a complete replacement USB hub and AC adaptor. Let's see how this goes!