USB Hub question

[minduka]

Hello guys

I am in need of your expertise once again. I recently bought a usb2.0 hub.(http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true) The problem is that it does not work with my external harddrive. According to the seller it is compatible with USB2.0, but in the item features, it says that the max speed is 12Mbps. Does this make sense? Thanks.

[edit] I emailed the seller and his response was the same when I asked him twice. Is this compatible with USB2.0 (480Mpbs)? His answer? Yes, make sure you have a USB2.0 compatible motherboard.

[[Neo770]]

It looks like a non-powered hub. Your external HDD may need a powered hub.

[minduka]

Is there a difference between a powered and non powered hub? In the product it says that it is USB2.0 But when I plug in my hard drive or my digital camera I get a message from windows. That my high speed peripherals are connected to a non high speed hub. This means that it is only USB1.0?

[minduka]

bump

[nodnerb2]

Hi,

What's the actual brand and model of this thing, if you post that someone will undoubtedly google it and tell you al there is to know about that item.

[minduka]

It's a no brand generic china made hub. Theres a link to the product

[Sixpac_XP]

do you have any USB 2.0 devices you can test out on your system? If so.. do you get the same error message?

[blubomber]

A powered USB hub will have a converter that you plugg into the wall then into the USB hub. This way, you wont be using the power on your computers USB port you have the hub plugged into. And, there is only so much power to go around. I have a non powered USB hub that will only let me have my printer connected and work properly. If i connect my USB camera, windows pops up a warning telling me that the hub does not have enough power to run all the devices i have connected. So your external hard drive may just require too much power for the USB to supply it.

Does the external Hard drive work fine when plugged directly into your computers USB port?

[[Neo770]]

A powered hub is one that has on of those external DC adapters to suplly it with power, other wise it draws its power from the USB port sometimes this can drain to much power and some USB devices wont work.

EDIT:Oh well I was to slow

[minduka]

Everything works perfectly with my laptop. Not even a year old. Anyways. This piece of trash I bought on eBay, has thought me a lesson, never buy generic crap, specially electronics. I got the belkin 7port hub, it rocks. I don't know what to do with this piece of sh*t.

[Sixpac_XP]

I have given up on Ebay about 2 months ago after a screw up with paypal...

I won't do that again. I like seeing in front of me what I buying with my cold hard cash.

[minduka]

indeed. ebay doesn't have quality products, too many people cannot be trusted.

[Ruahrc]

I think what you're experiencing here is a difference between USB2.0 ports and USB2.0 hi-speed ports. Yes, apparently there's a difference.

USB2.0 ports will recognize USB2.0 devices, but will not run at USB2.0 speed, instead it will only run at USB1.1 speed. What the difference is between these and plain USB1.1 ports is, I don't know (USB2 is supposed to be backwards compatible, right?)

USB2.0 hi-speed ports are full, real USB2.0 ports which run at 480Mbps. You need to look at the USB2.0 logo on the device/packaging. It should have a "hi-speed" portion on it somewhere. Look in the upper left of this web site: http://www.usb.org/ and tell me which logo matches yours. In order to have 480Mbps ports, you need that red "hi-speed" flag on it.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's a marketing loophole and that maybe what is going on here.

Ruahrc

edit: Yep, I found the cuprit. To quote from the auction webpage:

*Compatible with USB2.0 / 1.1/ 1.0, support full speed up to 12Mbps*

And the words full speed are where you are getting screwed. Full speed means 12Mbps, Low speed means 1.5Mbps, and Hi-speed means 480Mbps. So although your hub will support a USB2.0 device, it will not run at "hi-speed", only "full speed". Sorry to have to report to you this. I don't see a USB icon on the hub in those pictures, but I am willing to bet that wherever the logo is it doesn't have that red hi-speed flag on it.

[minduka]

Yeah, I think your're right.

But before i bought it i asked him if it was USB2.0 (max speed 480Mbps) and he said that if I had a 2.0 compatible mother board, it would work. I want a refund but he hasn't answered my email. I'll just have to give him lots and lots of negative feedback.