Splicing USB ports

**phuz** · 07-10-2008, 08:29 AM

Well, I googled it for about 20 minutes and found nothing. I went onto IRC - EFNET in #windows and those guys are assholes. Apparently they would rather spend 10 minutes of their pathetic lives telling me that I should google all day long until I find it instead of taking 30 seconds to tell me what I need to know.

If I have two USB devices, can I splice the lines together into one cable, or does it NEED the hub for some type of frame-switching?

**danielkh** · 07-10-2008, 08:34 AM

I don't know the definitive answer, but logically, you would need a hub. Once you splice, there is no way for the computer to define individual devices, is there? With a hub, the computer has to see the hub first, and THEN decide the other components. Plus, there are some really cheap 4 port, 2.0 hubs out there. Just go that route and be safe. I think the splicing plan could cause some serious problems.

**phuz** · 07-10-2008, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by danielkh

I don't know the definitive answer, but logically, you would need a hub. Once you splice, there is no way for the computer to define individual devices, is there? With a hub, the computer has to see the hub first, and THEN decide the other components. Plus, there are some really cheap 4 port, 2.0 hubs out there. Just go that route and be safe. I think the splicing plan could cause some serious problems.

I figured the HUB did some intelligent switching, but the only reason I don't want to use the hub is I am trying to keep the area behind my touch screen clutter-free, and didn't really want a hub back there. I have a 15' foot USB cable run from the PC to the front, which is now connected to a (semi-working) 4 port hub.

I thought it might be too good to be true.

**danielkh** · 07-10-2008, 08:40 AM

Have you seen these? I also wouldn't go with more than a 6' Usb cable unless your hub is powered, and then I would still stay with 6' if possible.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-4-PORT-HIGH-...QQcmdZViewItem

I know there are those Belkin (I think), 16ft non-powered 2.0 USB cables, but we used them on our equipment at work and never got 2.0 out of them.

**phuz** · 07-10-2008, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by danielkh

Have you seen these? I also wouldn't go with more than a 6' Usb cable unless your hub is powered, and then I would still stay with 6' if possible.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-4-PORT-HIGH-...QQcmdZViewItem

I don't have a choice. I need a 15' cable to safely route the cable from the PC in the trunk up to the dash, where I added 2 custom ports. If I must have a hub, I will build a 5vdc power supply for it.

BTW, just bought that hub

**danielkh** · 07-10-2008, 08:48 AM

You know, there might be a plan b if you don't want the hub behind your touchscreen. Put the hub somewhere else. Say 2-4ft from the Touchscreen. Then you can run standard usb cables to whatever you need the hub for. On my system, early on, I had the hub in the console so I could use it for more "stuff" if needed and it did great.