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USB Hubs

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Just as you would add a power bar for additional outlets, USB hubs let you to do same except to add more USB ports for peripheral connections. They often come in 2 varieties: 4-port and 7-port USB hubs. Other more advanced USB hubs combine with serial, parallel, Ethernet and maybe USB audio / video output to form a brand-independent laptop docking station.

Installing a USB hub is simply a job of connecting the hub itself, AC adapter and USB cable, but if you already have a mix of Hi-Speed USB and classic USB devices, getting them to coexist could be a challenge. The reason is that two isochronous devices (real-time video & audio) can already saturate the classic speed bus. If you need a couple of different classic USB devices to operate simultaneously, multi-transaction translator USB hubs are crucial as they allocate dedicated 12Mbps bandwidth.

4-port Hi-Speed USB Hubs
Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with VideoBelkin TetraHub Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port HubAdaptec xHub for Notebooks
Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 4 USB ports
  • Serial converter
  • SVGA video output, USB audio in/out, 2 1000mA USB 2.0 ports
  • Released in Jan 2005
Belkin TetraHub Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port HubHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 4 USB ports
  • Turbo Transaction Translator Technology
  • Released in Oct 2003
Adaptec xHub for NotebooksHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 4 USB ports
  • USBControl Utility
  • Released in Oct 2002
Unlike the competitors, Targus USB docking station has a true USB video output that delivers a SVGA at 16-bit color which you can use to expand desktop or to use as a primary display. Tuning down res. will boost depth to 32-bit. Other interesting features include a USB audio in/out adapter; and 2 1,000mA ports for rapid battery charging. Belkin Hi-Speed USB hub's Turbo Transcation Translator Technology guarantees 12Mbps to each port to accomodate more bandwidth-hogging devices without tradeoffs. Adaptec’s Hi-Speed USB hub in a mobile form factor packs with 4 downstream ports with device indicator lights as well as exclusive USBControl utility to monitor peripheral activities. 
Apple iPod USB Hubs
Belkin TuneSync for iPodBelkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-port Hub for iPod shuffle
Belkin TuneSync for iPodHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 5 USB ports
  • Apple iPod 3rd/4th dock, stereo line-out
  • Released in Nov 2005
Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-port Hub for iPod shuffleHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 4 USB ports
  • Apple iPod shuffle dock
  • Released in Oct 2005
The Belkin TuneSync for iPod features no less than 5 extra USB 2.0 ports in addition to the dock for your iPod. The Belkin charges your iPod or iPod mini while it syncs your tunes. The TuneSync includes a handy stereo-out jack for speakers, stereo or headset. LEDs help you monitor your ports and the unit has overcurrent protection as well.  The USB hub has a top-loading USB port that will work with highest-powered USB devices that draw up to 500mA; it can also handle another bus-powered device without a power adapter. The Belkin hub has a pearl white and compact shell that is a nice match to the color of iPod shuffle and Mac mini.  
7-port Hi-Speed USB Hubs
Belkin 7-port Plus USB 2.0 HubBelkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7-Port HubD-link DUB-H7 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub
Belkin 7-port Plus USB 2.0 Hub
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 7 USB ports
  • Released in Dec 2006
Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7-Port HubHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 7 USB ports
  • Released in Sep 2003
D-link DUB-H7 7-Port USB 2.0 HubHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 7 USB ports
  • Released in Oct 2002

Summary not yet available
 
Belkin's stackable, slim-line 7-port USB hub provides two top-loading ports for frequently removed peripherals and five horizontally mounted ports on the back plus a company's lifetime warranty. The rather ordinary looking hub provides seven Hi-Speed USB downstream ports, each of which can also cascade with another hub to provide an invisible extension of the USB bus. 
Internal 3.5" Hi-Speed USB & FireWire Hubs
SIIG USB 2.0 4-Port Bay HubBelkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Drive Bay Hub
SIIG USB 2.0 4-Port Bay Hub
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 4 USB ports
  • Released in Jan 2003
Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Drive Bay HubHi-Speed USB Certified
  • Hi-Speed USB
  • 4 USB ports
  • Released in Jan 2003

Summary not yet available
 
The internal USB hub can easily expand Hi-Speed USB port availability for anyone who can spare a 3.5" drive bay and has a rare female type A USB connector on their motherboard or USB PCI. 

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