With the introduction of USB 3, a capability of Point to Point routing has been introduced whereby a routing string sent in the data packet header enables the host to direct the data to a single destination port. This decreases the level of data on the USB 'network' and it also serves to reduce power consumption.
One additional advantage of using a USB hub is that it can provide a length increase within the system. A hub can be used as an active USB repeater to extend cable length for up to 5 metre lengths at a time. USB hubs can be powered or unpowered. This means that power is required and must be supplied from somewhere. A high power consuming devices like printers, scanners, etc have their own internal power supplies and do not need to draw any power from the USNB connection but low-power devices like mice, keyboards, Flash memory sticks and the like draw their power from the bus.
Also, USB hubs need power themselves but they also pass power from the host onto the additional downstream ports on the hub itself. However there are power limitations as the host cannot provide unlimited power and therefore each individual downstream port needs to have power limitations. This needs to be remembered when connecting large numbers of peripheral devices to a USB hub. This means that a compliant bus powered hub, i. It must be remembered that the hub needs power for itself and accordingly it is allocated a unit, i.
If additional power is required, then the hub can have its own external power supply. USB hubs are devices that connect to a computer's USB port to add additional ports to increase the number of devices that can be connected to the computer.
However, there's a catch when using USB hubs: all the devices have to share bandwidth and power supply from the computer's USB port. The bandwidth and power from the computer's port is the same no matter how many devices are connected. However, not all USB devices are created equal: some require more power than others.
USB hubs work fine with low-powered devices like mice and keyboards, but they may not be able to operate high-powered devices like flash drives. In that way, devices may fail to work or produce error messages if the hub doesn't have sufficient power. However if we shop around we will find power hubs in all shapes. So which should we choose? Well, there's one important rule of thumb when shopping for any USB hub: always go for powered hub.
That will cost you a bit more, and add the hassles of an extra cord snaking across your desk and an extra device to keep plugged in, but it's totally worth it. You may wonder what exactly the difference between them is.
Powered or active USB hubs use an external power source to bring each hub port to the same energy level as an on-system port. Active USB hubs are usually powered through a wall outlet. If you need to charge multiple phones at once, you should use a powered USB hub instead. Tip: Charging a mobile device? Attaching devices to your laptop might be convenient, but it eats up a lot of energy.
Adding more ports from a non-powered USB hub only intensifies the stress. Since it generates its own power, it acts as a second source of energy for your devices to feed on. You may not notice it, but reducing that much load on your laptop can really improve its speed, performance, and lifespan. One issue with non-powered USB hubs is the slow data transfer. You might notice a delay when transferring files from one drive to another.
By using a powered USB hub, you can significantly speed up data transfers from a couple of minutes to a few seconds. Meanwhile, non-powered ones are good for people who prioritize portability over function and speed. When choosing between the two, keep in mind that the best USB hub to buy is the one that best suits your specific needs.
So before you pull out your wallet, make sure that the USB hub you plan to get suits your lifestyle. Unpowered hubs have compatibility issues with devices that need more power to operate than the hub can provide. For example, a USB flash drive might work perfectly fine with the computer's USB port or an active hub, but it may not power on when connected to a passive hub. The USB 3. Dan Stone started writing professionally in , specializing in education, technology and music.
He is a web developer for a communications company and previously worked in television. By Dan Stone Updated January 11, What Is an Uplink Port on a Router?
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