USB Printer Hub or USB Hub

cloud_dog

Ok, I am a little confused by which is most appropriated to enable manual sharing of a printer via USB.

I was looking for a specific USB Printer Hub, for example this one, but I have come across a number of what I would describe as standard USB hubs which purport to support sharing of a printer, for example this one, (which I am dubious about)

Please Note: I'm not planning on buying either of the two examples and am using them as, well, funnily enough, examples)

So my question......... Will a 'standard' USB hub allow a printer to be shared across two (or more) PC's (assuming sufficient ports) or do you need a printer specific hub, i.e. one that provides one type A socket and multiple type B sockets?

Thanks

StuC75

The amazon one looks more like what you are needing (1 printer to 4 machines). The Ebay one just looks to be a powered mini hub - connect four devices to one computer.

You can see this by which usb ports they each have..
The amazon one has 4 ports like what you would connect to the 'printer' end, and one that is like what is on your computer.

Whilst the ebay one shows two connectors at the front.. (so implies and receive\send to devices ratio....)...

cloud_dog

Hi.

I understand that the first looks like the one I should go for, and indeed that is what I said but, I am curious as to how the 'standard' hubs would work.

In theory you do not need a Type B connector so you could have Type A cables running from the back of your PC / Laptop in to the 'standard' hub and a single Type A / Type B cable running to the printer.

So, my question really still stands, anyone know why a 'standard (all Type A) hub would be advertised as a hub for printers???

kwikbreaks

It just looks to me like they are suggesting you could connect 4 printers to the one PC although why you'd want to is a bit of a mystery.

I suspect they just filled up the title line with padding terms which is quite common in eBay listings so it stands more chance of appearing in a search. The body of the advert doesn't mention printers at all.