USB Hub

[sandbox]

Power Adapter Hub or no Power Adapter?

I've never had a Powered up Hub so I have no idea if it would be needed or useful?

[sandbox]

Well I got my answer, a power hub will let you charge your ipod without the computer turned on, among other things.
this one should workout.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000M3E3GW/ref=cm_sp_item

[chriskleeman]

Depends on the power needs of what you're hooking up.

Some USB devices draw considerably more power than others, and won't run properly on an un-powered hub. Also, multiple USB devices can exceed the capacity of the power available from the individual computer's USB ports.

No particular examples of this come to mind at the moment, maybe another cup of coffee and I could  come up with a proper example.  

HTH,

Chris K

EDIT: Well, while I was writing this, you posted back!

[dakota]

I have always used a powered hub.  For a few years now, I have used the Belkin, which has seven ports, is stackable,  and had no problem.  While hooking up my new iMac, and attaching a new Epson printer, I bought a very compact (powered)  Targus hub, and discovered that when I hooked the printer to it, the computer did not see it.  I had to attach the usb to the computer itself in order to make it recognize the printer.

So now I may have a problem.  I need a hub, since there ae so few usb ports on the iMac, and when I finally remove my G5 and put the iMac on the desk, I am going to see if the printer will be recognized on the Belkin hub.  If not, the question is - are there more powerful hubs which might do the trick? Right now I can not disconnect everything from the Belkin to hook it up to the iMac.

If anyone does any research on hubs, and can find the differences, and the advantages, of some over others, I would love to hear it!

[Mayo]

I got this seven-port powered USB hub a month or two ago and so far, so good... Powered definitely seems like the way to go as there are fewer reported problems when using a powered hub.

I've read a lot of user reviews and it seems to me that sometimes a particular USB peripheral will not operate properly with a particular hub for no particular reason.  (Is that enough particulars for everyone?) Some hubs have more reported problems than others... So one should be prepared to test all the items they want to plug into a new hub and send it back if it doesn't work as expected. Apart from reading the user reviews (and pro reviews if available) there isn't anything that can be done to guarantee 100% compatibility.

The hub I wound up buying had the fewest reported problems of the 5-10 models I considered. Having seven ports and being rather small was the icing on the cake.

[Xairbusdriver]

Powered hubs are a positive. First, very few keyboards provide enough power for even a thumbdrive. That makes the most convenient USB source of little use for anything but a mouse. Second, most iMacs don't have the port on the side or front. That makes it harder to reach the port for temporary use. Third, yo'll likely end up with more USB devices than you'll have built-in ports. Fourth, I said it, therefore...

[sandbox]

Thanks folks, with the new Logitech keyboard and the absence of those USB ports, I needed a place to plug-in my Bluetooth dongles.
This company's products continue to pop up around here, I bought their USB to Serial cable, which was well made, to my surprise and twice I've seen Alueatek USB hard drives on boats. http://www.aluratek.com/products.php
When I saw the Hub at Amazon I just had to try it, the size is useful for travel and the short cable works perfectly fine for me.

[MamaMoose]

I have found a power USB hub absolutely necessary as others have said:

 Some uSB devices won't work unless they are directly connected to a USB port on the computer - not on the keyboard. The reason is they draw to much power since the keyboard port is connected to one of the USB circuits in the mainframe and other USB units are connected to the same circuit.

Unfortuanately, Apple limits the number of separate USB circuits - MacBook Pro has 3. In thiss day and age, the average user could use 6 or 7 independent USB circuits. So, the powered USB hub essential adds the equivalent of 3 -7 circuits.

MamaMoose

[sandbox]

Thanks Mama, it's good to know.
All I've ever used the keyboard uSB-ports for was the PDA Sync/charger, bluetooth dongles and if empty, a place to unload photos from the camera. None of those tasks seem to be a burden.
When I had the old imac DV I used a 2-in-1 adapter for a logitech programmable keyboard-mouse that worked well, and I still carry it in my laptop case but rarely use it.

[krissel]

I have a 7 port Asante hub and a 4 port D-Link (both powered) and each will power printers and whatever else I have plugged in. Never had a message that indicated it couldn't see or run anything. Also have a mini powered hub for use with my PB but rarely use it.

I never trust just the bus to power things, especially an external drive. Then again just yesterday I couldn't find the brick to power my mini external hard drive so I just plugged it in (USB) and it fired right up via bus power on my old 9600. Worked fine.

[sandbox]

Kris, I have so many bricks I could build a sh..house. Sometimes I can't tell which goes where?
I have an IOGear powered FW repeater that has a brick I've never used. I went looking for it and wouldn't you know it's not marked IOGear, it looks like all the other bricks in the box. I did mark the ones in use but as time goes by the masking tape I used dried out or the ink faded and now if they weren't connected I couldn't tell them apart.

A week ago I rediscovered my engraving tool and named every SH brick I could.

[Highmac]

QUOTE(sandbox @ Dec 7 2007, 07:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sometimes I can't tell which goes where...

We recently bought a PC (yeh, I know.... ) and a monitor with no built-in speakers.
I fished out a pair of mini speakers I'd bought for a personal stereo years ago and plugged them into the headphone port. Got out the power brick that was alongside the speakers in the cupboard and rigged it all up. Switched it all on... A deafening hum and one speaker started smoking.

Turned out the 6V speakers didn't appreciate being powered by the 15V brick belonging to the old Netgear..... Went out and bought a pair of USB speakers....

Next time I WILL check the labels...

[krissel]

Oh yeah, I've taken to labeling all the bricks as I purchase them but this one was from a few years ago and is now AWOL.

Don't know where it's hiding.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Don't know where it's hiding.

Obviously, you need to fire up FileMaker Pro and use one of the included Inventory templates or design one yourself. You should then mark each item logged in with a unique alphanumeric value (incrementing automatically and probably related to the manufacturer as well as your last name). Fields should be included for recording current, and several past locations of each item. Also include fields for dates of purchase, times of use per day, physical descriptions, etc. After the inventory is complete, you should make physical comparisons of the items and their locations (as well as their condition) at least daily and possibly more often if there are children or pets nearby. With an appropriately designed and used inventory, you should never again have problems finding, maintaining, replacing or contacting the manufacturer about a product. They, in fact, may offer to pay for the data you collect which may help offset the loss of income due to keeping the database up-to-date.

[RHPConsult]

Or . . . produce a label (via Dymo or Brother P-Touch – good choices) immediately after you've finished the 37 min (mol) job of opening the armor-plated bubble pack to reach the "brick". Affix said label and relax.  

Or, also get yourself an "As Shown on TV" Package-Shark. It's quite a gadget. It really works (beats a Swiss Army knife, by a mile)! and the sales pitch (on the phone) for the Shark is worth the price of admission. If they give Emmy's for such production numbers, this was a sure winner.