Comments on: USB Hubs, who makes the best one?

By: Giovanni

Giovanni — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:34:28 +0000

Just received test data from the manufacturer of the Sealevel Optically Isolated 7-Port USB Hub (Part# HUB7i); test data shows mean time between failures (MTBF) at 323,490.8358 hrs. To all pessimists… no, I have no affiliation with them nor do I receive any financial incentive to endorse their product.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:20:22 +0000

It seems like there are no trusted hubs that can do what they are designed for. I have been searching for a reliable hub but they all have flaws, either with their design or their power or both. Isn’t there a hub that just works according to the USB specs? I read a few good things about a relatively new Atomik USB port hub and it seems to do well due to its 3 separate usb controllers it has.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:03:08 +0000

That may be the #1 hub, but who can afford $279 for a USB hub????

By: Giovanni

Giovanni — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:01:48 +0000

Here would be the #1 hub…

Optically Isolated 7-Port USB Hub (Part# HUB7i)
http://www.sealevel.com/store/hub7i-optically-isolated-7-port-usb-hub.html?SID=40j2sv41jd01dsk2dt2gj5fpp2

Sealevel’s HUB7i is an optically isolated USB hub that connects up to seven USB peripherals and protects the host computer from voltages up to 5500 VAC, which offers the highest level of protection available from any USB hub manufacturer.

By: Giovanni Heward

Giovanni Heward — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:55:50 +0000

The BEST USB 2.0 HUB provides optical isolation. Voltage spikes, power surges, and ground loops that affect traditional serial interfaces also affect USB devices.

http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=uisohub4
http://www.bb-elec.com/bb-elec/literature/UISOHUB4_1104ds.pdf

http://www.sealevel.com/store/accessories/usb-hubs/270u-optically-isolated-7-port-usb-hub-with-sealatch-usb-ports.html
http://www.sealevel.com/support/getAttach/13/AA-00207/270U.pdf

NOTE: Your issue may be related to selective suspend mode. In Windows XP/2003, the USB core stack supports selective suspend mode. A driver can use this mode to turn off the USB device that the driver controls when the device becomes idle. This mode works even when the computer remains in a fully operational power state (S0). This fix turns off selective suspend mode for all USB host controller drivers on the PC.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895962
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314634

Fix yourself by running the following at a command prompt:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USB /v DisableSelectiveSuspend /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

By: Arthur

Arthur — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:09:38 +0000

I’ve had the same issues with the same hubs. I’ve even tried ExpressCard 54 hubs, and they are even worse. I just found this page:

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/1756.aspx

with a ton of reviews, and the first listed as a five star hub they recommend is the:

Targus Desktop 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub

I’m going out to look for one now, and I’ll buy it regardless of price if I can find it in a physical store. If not, I’ll order tonight from amazon or something and get raped on fast shipping. Either way I’ll report what I find. I have two external hard drives at the moment(one of which is a portable Seagate that has no AC Adapter), a SanDisk 8gb mp3 player, Logitech v220 wireless mouse, notebook chill pad, and a Bluetooth 2.1 adapter to run simultaneously. My notebook only has two USB ports. I’ll post how it works out as soon as I find out. Cross your fingers, please.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:08:39 +0000

Link to the Kensington hub. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/185-7565696-6022142?a=B0002FHENE

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:51:29 +0000

Kensington makes a nice round dome USB hub that comes with a light. Six ports on the outside and back, and one on top. It powers externals nicely and allows you to send multiple drives to your xbox 360 using the back USB port. That’s what I use it for- works like a champ. No issues after years of use.

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:54:57 +0000

A year on since my last post and I find myself here again looking for the Holy Grail of USB hubs. The D-Link lasted this long before it became USB 1 only. Not bad, Looks like I’ll buy another. Incorporate suggests adding another USB card. That’s another can of worms – I have a drawer full of useless USB cards and would recommend buying Adaptec only. Don’t waste your time and money on anything else. Feel free to disagree.

By: incorporate in nevada

incorporate in nevada — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:50:56 +0000

I’ve yet to find a cheap or relatively expensive (seriously they re all $50 or less) that will consistently work. No matter what everyone has some kind of glitch. Makes me wonder about the USB spec and how good it really is in an Windows Environment. I found this post today because I am searching hubs right now at Newegg and not one of them has a 5 star rating. They all seem to be junk out of the far east. Considering just adding another USB card to the computer.

By: William Newhall

William Newhall — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:40:11 +0000

Anything that is made buy man can be defected Belkin has made millions of USB Hubs & they have the best warranty in the business. Look it possible for anyone to get a couple of bad hubs from them. The main thing is they stand behind their products for life. How many other companies do you know that does that? I own 3 Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7-Ports Hub Part # F5U237v1 & I have several friends that have the same one too. We also used Belkin cables to, it just like anything else if you want to buy cheap cables they can burns out your hubs. The seconds’ best hubs I found are made by D-link & I have a few of them for my family & their friends have them to. I do not work for any one of these company, this is just my opinion. The USBGEAR listed above is a 7-Port USB 2.0 Powered Slim Hub for PC-MAC with Power Adapter it come with a 5 YEAR Warranty: which is good. It depend on which you ratter have 5 years or lifetime Warranty Myself I found a lifetime to be the best you can have. I had cables buy Belkin replace free of charge that were over 10 years old. They did not ask for a sale slip, they replaced them no question asked.
Regard
Bill

By: KenG

KenG — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:35:03 +0000

Can a usb hub able to support wireless donggle, bluetooth donggle, pendrive & external hardisk at the same time when connecting to a notebook?

By: PaulP

PaulP — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:46:47 +0000

Any 7 port USB 2.0 hub using the Philips chip ISP1521BE is a nightmare..

There’s a design falw that Philips will not admit (atleast not in public)

They are sensitive to staics and will drop several time per day when used in 2.0

The Cable-To-Go 7 port is using this IC

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:57:53 +0000

The TRIPP-LITE U222-007-R 7 is by far the best USB hub that I have used. It’s been in use on my home and on my work computers with a minimum of 5 devices connected continuously for the last 2+ years. It has 5 rear ports and 2 front ports and is very compact…

By: SAM

SAM — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:09:16 +0000

So there is no solution ? Damnnnn it….!!!