USB Hubs

Nytehawk

This may be simple to answer.. but not for me. I have a basic portable hub (just plugged into the back of the pc and 300mm of cable. I need a desktop Hub powerful enough so that I can update my Road Angel without getting an error message saying the hub is not powerful enough to support this hardware. What do I look for in the device manager cos it doesn't seem that simple to me.

timm_2

Have you tried plugging the Road Angel directly into the PC socket, without using the hub? I use an old laptop at work to update a couple of Road Angels without any problem.

Don't forget to switch the unit on first - it could be the USB port is trying to power the Road Angel up.

mr_fishbulb

I got a powered belkin one and I'm suspicious as to the 'powered'ness of it. It doesn't seem to have any additional lights come on when I turn the power plug on at the wall. And my webcam seems to turn itself off if I use it for 5 mins or more.

MortgageBroker_2

Most USB hubs I have seen come with a power supply as this does need to be boosted. I have a Road Angel II and plug straight to PC with no probs. Takes power from PC as well so no extra cables.

Even if you have a powered hub if you are using some v high power equip at the same time some might have a few probs as power is drained.

Should not need to access device manager, no settings to change

odowdchr

mr_fishbulb wrote:

I got a powered belkin one and I'm suspicious as to the 'powered'ness of it. It doesn't seem to have any additional lights come on when I turn the power plug on at the wall. And my webcam seems to turn itself off if I use it for 5 mins or more.

You can check in Device Manager to see the hub properties....it will tell you if it's self-powered or external. Had 2 external powered hubs from Ebuyer that turned out to be self-powered even though i'd plugged the adaptor in..

Nytehawk

I can plug it directly into the usb port on my pc without any problems....... but having to get to the back of my pc everytime I want to plug some temporary kit in means disconnecting my printer etc. I thought that the idea of an external hub was to make plugging in easy and allowed me to plug in different bits of kit, IS THIS A MISCONCEPTION?
I am able to get into Device Manager but it isn't specific unless somebody can give me an idea waht I am looking at ie I read Generic USB HUB. USB\VID_058F&PID etc etc Anybody got any ideas

Browntoa

I use a mains powered hub which works fine and allows me to plug more than one usb item into my crappy Win98se PC

Furpurse

There's not much to see in "Device Manager" that will help with your problem. If the hub has a power connector it should work, however if its self powered, some devices that need a lot of power may not work.

Disconnect anything else thats plugged into the hub.

Failing that check the products website.

terryr

Why not get a usb extension cable which you can leave plugged in velcroed to the top of your tower then you won't need to crawl round the back of your pc anymore
hope this helps

odowdchr

Furpurse wrote:

There's not much to see in "Device Manager" that will help with your problem. If the hub has a power connector it should work, however if its self powered, some devices that need a lot of power may not work.

Disconnect anything else thats plugged into the hub.

Failing that check the products website.

Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers > Right click on the USB Root Hub and click the Power tab.

Hub Information will tell you if the hub is self-powered or not, it will also tell you the power (mA) available to each port.

Attached devices should identify the Road Angel device and it will tell you the power requirements (mA) for it.

If you havent got enough juice available then you need a powered hub, or a single port direct extension cable from the USB socket so you detach it easily.