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10-Port USB Hubs

Mav
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10-Port USB Hubs

Getting alittle fed up with fiddling around the back of the PC to swap the large array od HDDs I have.
Also, a free 4-way hub that came free many years ago when I purchased something else (can't even remember what now) seems to be giving problems so I thought a 10-port such as 10 Ports USB 2.0 HUB High Speed for PC Laptop Mac would do the job.
Has anyone had good experience of using these or a better recommendation?

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12 REPLIES 12
Peter_Vaughan
Grafter
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Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

I would not recommend going above 4 ports on an external hub, even then if you are using all 4 ports it should be externally powered for best reliability.
Remember they all have to share the capabilities of a single USB2 port that the hub plugs into and thus you don't get 10 ports all capable of 480Mbs and drawing 500mA each but a share of 480Mbs and 500mA current.
If the majority of your USB devices are externally powered it should not matter too much but still > 4 ports is not recommended.
ejs
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

I got a 7 port Plexus hub a while ago, it appears to the computer as 2 4-port hubs, one connected to the other. It works fine.
Externally powered hubs can supply 500mA to each port, although the power adaptor for that 10 port hub is only listed as 2A so could only provide the max current for 4 devices.
Mav
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

All devices are externally powered.
I don't actually require 10 ports so maybe a 7-port would suffice.
Perhaps this D-Link DUB-H7 7 - Port USB 2.0 Hub External or even the cheaper USB 7-port Powered Tower Hub.
At less than £6 the latter may be just the ticket. Not sure why it would carry the following warning, though.
Quote
Product Safety
This product is subject to specific safety warnings
    Warning: Not suitable for children under 36 months
    Warning: To be used under the direct supervision of an adult

How many children under 3 would need one  Crazy

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VileReynard
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

How many adults would want one?  Grin

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198kHz
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

I remember kitchen planners saying you can't have too many 13A socket outlets - seems it's the same with USB ports these days when specifying PCs.
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AlaricAdair
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

Seven or eight port USB2 hub will work just fine provided there is a separate power supply. Remember though it is a serial protocol with all devices sharing the bandwidth. In some cases mixing several high speed devices could cause a slowing of the service.
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Mav
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

I cant imagine that would impact much on my usage as, mostly, only one disc would be accessed at any one time.
Those that would need to be accessed more frequently and at the same time will still be connected directly to the PC.

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hulls
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Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

Quote from: Mav
Product Safety
This product is subject to specific safety warnings
    Warning: Not suitable for children under 36 months
    Warning: To be used under the direct supervision of an adult

It looks as though the manufacturer / importer are treating it as a toy, thus the age warnings.  Sounds like someone who can't be bothered to get proper advice, and so just labels everything in case of the worst possible scenario.  That's why I've seen baby's rattles with the under 36 months age warning on them  Crazy
I guess the product was made in China or similar.
John
VileReynard
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

See http://www.babyusb.com/products/novelty-usb-flash-drives/baby-bottle/69.html

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colintivy
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

Agree with Alaric reply #6
I have a 7 port Belkin, seperate powered.with 6 used but rarely more than 2 at any one time. No problems
This leads me to ask is there any performance loss if two active computers are wired into a 4 port router (Belkin N)? The composite output bandwidth must be split or is it time shared?Huh
  Huh
AxeMurderer
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Posts: 164
Registered: ‎18-05-2011

Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

Quote
This leads me to ask is there any performance loss if two active computers are wired into a 4 port router (Belkin N)? The composite output bandwidth must be split or is it time shared?Huh

Well they obviously have to share the internet bandwidth because you only have one internet connection.
If you mean impact on the speeds they communicate with each other, then no, no impact. The wired part of the router is actually a switch which imposes no overhead on two connected PCs communicating via wired ethernet. Add a third and fourth wired PC into the picture and the router still shouldn't have any impact. This is not the case for wireless connections which do have to share the wireless bandwidth, even when there are only two of them.
colintivy
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Re: 10-Port USB Hubs

Ta AxeM,
Having a very variable download speed for months, I did wonder if that had any impact when both computers are at it.
Thanks.
Cheesy