USB power?

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
Is this okay? Is the WIFI adapter sucking up 500 mA?

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On the other port I have this.

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I only have one USB device plugged in. When I insert a USB thumb drive it won't show up unless I unplug the WIFI card.
 
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Steltek

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
3,364
1,098
136
Not unusual for wireless (especially n and most especially MIMO) devices transmitting at full power. If the driver has an option to reduce the transmission power, you'd probably see the power useage drop if you did so.

I think the USB2.0 specs provide a max 500mA per hub, not port. As a result, your wifi adapter is consuming all the available juice for all the ports on that particular hub.

Does it work if you plug it in to another hub?

If you have a USB 3.0 hub, try plugging the wifi in there as USB 3.0 provides up to 900mA per hub.
 
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corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
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Wi-Fi is a real power hog. That's why I keep my mobile devices in Airplane Mode unless I need to connect. It will suck up what ever is available to it.
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
Not unusual for wireless (especially n and most especially MIMO) devices transmitting at full power. If the driver has an option to reduce the transmission power, you'd probably see the power useage drop if you did so.

I think the USB2.0 specs provide a max 500mA per hub, not port. As a result, your wifi adapter is consuming all the available juice for all the ports on that particular hub.

Does it work if you plug it in to another hub?

If you have a USB 3.0 hub, try plugging the wifi in there as USB 3.0 provides up to 900mA per hub.


I don't have a hub. It's connected directly to the computer. And all I have is USB 2.0. Maybe I should buy a powered USB hub?
 

Virgorising

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2013
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Wi-Fi is a real power hog. That's why I keep my mobile devices in Airplane Mode unless I need to connect. It will suck up what ever is available to it.


Wow. I discovered this as well! One reason I only use wi fi when necessary, and that is rarely. But I thought it was just me or the system in question. U learn here every nano.:thumbsup:
 

Steltek

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
3,364
1,098
136
I don't have a hub. It's connected directly to the computer. And all I have is USB 2.0. Maybe I should buy a powered USB hub?

The motherboard chipset has hubs built in to it. You can see them in device manager (the USB ports provided by the motherboard are connected to the chipset via hubs).

A powered external USB hub might solve your problem, as would a USB add-in card to be dedicated solely to your wifi adapter.
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
Walked into a RadioShack and saw one at the cost of $30 and thought forget that! Went on eBay and saw one for five bucks! LOL
 

Virgorising

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2013
4,470
0
0
Walked into a RadioShack and saw one at the cost of $30 and thought forget that! Went on eBay and saw one for five bucks! LOL


Excelllent. eBay ROCKS.

eBay is the pure model/paradigm for what Capitalism was always meant to be and almost never is, i.e., MICROSOFT.
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
Yeah, I find myself buying from eBay more so than from any other source. Check out on of my recent purchases on eBay.
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