4 port USB hub - $9.99 MicroCenter B&M

[TheLoneGunman]

Seems to be a very good deal based on my basic checking.

Good all month (May) at MicroCenter.

Regularly about $32

just a note, this is not a powered usb hub. it runs off your computers bus power supply.

[pd123]

Originally posted by TommyBoomfiger
just a note, this is not a powered usb hub. it runs off your computers bus power supply. What is the difference what would the powered hub do that the one that works off the computer can't do? How much power can it use that the computer can't handle? Nice price, I have two USB ports and four devices that I use. Is this a good solution, or should I pass?

[TheLoneGunman]

Uhm, "powered" devices are generally powered by a cord or battery.

For example, my scanner and my wireless (Ricochet) modem both have AC adapters and hook up to my USB port.

My optical mouse on the other hand draws power from the USB port (how else does the little laser go on?). Going to a 4 port hub shouldn't affect this except there will simply be a little less power if I have all 4 devices working (since the same power will be split 4 ways).

Not an electrical engineer though...

[the_dude8]

does any 1 know if there is a microcenter in San diego?

usb can draw a certain amount of power from your computers power supply. anything you use through your usb ports will use at least a little power simply because electrical connections are neccesary for anything in a computer to work. some devices such as mice use very little power and usually have an insignificant impact on your power supply. but when you have lots of periphrials drawing even a little bit of power each, it adds up to a lot. then you get lots of wierd things happening such as errors and crashes due to shortage of power. with a powered usb hub all these periphs draw power off the adaper attached to the hub and thus do not rely on the system power supply.

[TheLoneGunman]

I am using one of those hubs now and it seems to work fine.

Will keep you posted.

[islandbabyboy]

Does this hub come packaged with USB cables or is it a straight hub? I need USB cables and they're a b***h to buy. Hella expensive. So I was thinking....

[TheLoneGunman]

Remember the old days of ASCII pictures... well, I will try to draw one...



U U U U
{=================}
|
|
|
|
{===[

In other words, 4 input ports and an output that hooks to your existing port.

It is just like a power strip (but USB not power)

[islandbabyboy]

That's a great graphic... but doesn't answer my question... for $9.99... guess no cables included...

[TheLoneGunman]

Yes. it has one main cable that hooks to your existing port. It is one unit. no need for cables.

[pd123]

I just got the 4 hub USB router and it's powered. I think there is an option to run it powered or through the computer, not sure, check further if that interest you. The price at Buy.com $15.95 shipped. Thanks for the post Maggie from Dealhunting, link: http://www.us.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=70001996

[Captain Clueless]

I bought the unpowered hub ($9.95) from MicroCenter, and I ran into a small problem using it. I've got my scanner plugged in and my PocketPC sync cable plugged in, but when I tried to plug in my Ixla camera cable, Windows ME complained that it couldn't use the hub for that one. But I have two USB ports on my computer, so I plugged the Ixla cable into the port the hub wasn't using.

Just a note that this hub won't work with absolutely everything.

[leemaj]

At Circuit City this weekend, there is a 4 port USB hub, which can be switched to either self powered or bus powered. Price is $29.99 -MIR so then its free. I have this one, and it works great with webcam and optical mouse.