JT! Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Only have 3 on my laptop, one is constantly in use my a wireless mouse, then there's a keyboard, webcam, headset, game pad, ipod, external hard drive etc etc to be plugged in. I bought a 4 port usb multi adapter, it seems to be utter shite, mouse and keyboard regularly stop working, ipod won't even sync or charge though it it would appear. I know there's limitations to non-powered usb hubs, so should I buy a powered one, and if so will this actually make a difference, or am I just trying to send too much information down one usb port? (Also I'm plugging a bunch of 2.0 devices in a 3.0 usb port so would getting a 3.0 device help?) Edited January 9, 2013 by JT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 One USB port can only do one powered thing in an ideal world. So you can't for example read a USB drive and charge your phone. Not even sure a powered one would help to be honest, we tried it at work and it still wouldn't charge through a powered one for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Have you looked into getting a laptop dock made for the model you have? They often have more ports on them, and various other benefits for when you're using the laptop more like a desktop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I suspect the power (or lack of) is the issue, rather than the number of things you have plugged in.According to the ever reliable yahoo answers, you can either plug in 144, 6-8, 124 or 127 devices into a single usb port.source: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080624153116AAJrQRe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've got a powered hub somewhere, never had an issue with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilf Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've got a hub thing because of this, it works fine just with say a memory stick and on SD card reader in it but if I plug in a big HDD it won't pick it up lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I have a hub, not powered, just uses a USB port. I have my Pioneer DDJ, an Alesis midi keyboard, my phone and a USB memory stick plugged into it with no issues. Just luck or am I god? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamus Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've a powered hub and it seems ok running wireless keyboard/mouse combo, sd reader, Ipod and phone charger? (its branded after my dads employer qinetiq but I'll see if it has another brand mark) and my external HDD is powered and only connected for back ups every week or two and through main line usb with almost everything else disconnected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've got a non-powered 4 port hub thing that cost sod all from Tesco. It lives permanently plugged into a mouse, card reader, phone charger and 1TB non-powered external hard drive. Never had the slightest fault from it, even when using everything at once, which I do pretty regularly. Maybe it's just the particular hub you've got that's no good rather than non-powered ones in general? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Well mine must be really really really shit then. New one ordered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 I have a hub, not powered, just uses a USB port. I have my Pioneer DDJ, an Alesis midi keyboard, my phone and a USB memory stick plugged into it with no issues. Just luck or am I god? Does your phone charge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Well mine must be really really really shit then. New one ordered. Is it a powered one you've ordered? I had a quick look into this because I had time this morning. The issue is that USB ports adhere to a standard that only requires them to provide 0.5A (or 0.9A if they're USB3). Most modern motherboard manufacturers provide way above that, my motherboard for example gives 1.5A. (3 times the standard). To put the issue into perspective, iPads require 2.1A to charge, and iPhones require 1.0A to charge at full speed. If the amperage they're provided with drops, they'll either charge slowly or not at all. If you use an unpowered hub on a 0.5A port, then each port on the hub may be receiving far less than that. 8 ports getting fed 0.5A gives 0.0625A each, whereas some powered hubs however support up to 2.5A per socket. If you have an iPad or iPhone, you're always better charging them from a wall charger really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 I bought a well reviewed powered one with 7 ports. The one I have now is the cheapest one I could find and I think it might not even be detected as a 2.0 device now that I look into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Does your phone charge? Yep, albeit slowly, but that's standard with USB charging... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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