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USB hub -- powered or not?

B

Bodine

Member
My Dad needs a USB 2.0 hub and I'm not sure if I need a powered one or not. Are there specific situations/devices that need powered hubs vs. passive?

He has 2 printers, a wireless keyboard/mouse reciever, a PDA cradle, a card reader, and a zip drive (which he refuses to stop using). He's maxed out his on-board ports and the single non-powered USB hub and I'm out to get him another one.

And advice is appreciated.
 
Definately better off with powered. If your USB device draws its power from the USB cable, Like an iPod or Zen for recharging, You'll need a powered hub.
 
I also recommend self-powered. Generally a self-powered hub should be able to be used either way (I wouldn't buy one that couldn't). All the self-powering should do is provide extra power for USB devices that need power from the USB connection to function (Canon LIDE scanners for one, external HD boxes with notebook drives, USB mice etc.). Of course when the power is plugged in it should also supply what little power the hub logic circuit itself uses and would normally be gotten via the USB connection to the PC. If it is built right, when you plug the hub's power supply into the hub, it will disconnect the 5V line from the PC, so unplug it from the hub when using it as an unpowered hub or the hub might not work.

.bh.
 
I was wondering . . . is it possible to charge MP3 players via a powered USB hub that is not connected to a PC. That is, can I was the USB hub as a psuedo charger?
 
If your MP3 player CAN be charged from the USB, then it could be charged from a powered hub whether connected to the PC or not. Perhaps faster as a good powered hub should be able to supply more current on the +5 line than the normal mobo-integrated ports.

.bh.
 
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