Best USB Hub

**nsmoller** · 01-24-2005, 10:33 PM

I need a USB hub to put in the front of the car... i will need to power it

I was looking at a 7 port hub, allowing me to have 3 free (which will be flush mounted to console) and 1 for future expansion

i will power it and control it w/a SDC

could i use a usb->IDE beast if i want a dvd/cdrw in dash w/a 7 port powered hub? my cdrw is a 5.25" drive

whats the best brand?

**DJKhan85** · 01-24-2005, 10:36 PM

I have a D-Link 7 port powered hub up front and it works beautifully. Its powered off of my opus 150. As for the drive qeustion I don't see how that wouldn't work, BUt you would need to power the drive off something else that gives both a 12v and 5v line.

**DarquePervert** · 01-25-2005, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by nsmoller

my cdrw is a 5.25" drive

Ummmmm.
ALL CDRW drives are 5.25", considering that a CD (writable or otherwise) is 5.25" across....

**Scouse Monkey** · 01-25-2005, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Ummmmm.
ALL CDRW drives are 5.25", considering that a CD (writable or otherwise) is 5.25" across....

stop being pedantic - you know what he means!

Do desktop optical drives run off 5V or 12V???? #(oh wait i should really search for that answer.....)

**mp3oplecarrier** · 01-25-2005, 08:29 AM

Both, about 1A each..

**Scouse Monkey** · 01-25-2005, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by mp3oplecarrier

Both, about 1A each..

Cheers buddy, got distracted and didnt get time to search before you answered. 1A ont he 12V is quite a lot. Definitely gonna go with a lappy drive.

**mp3oplecarrier** · 01-25-2005, 08:35 AM

I built a PSU for my optical drive for the old car using 5 and 12v regulators, seemed to work ok on the testbed, but I'll probably look for a slimline for the new car to keep things simple...

Steve

**DJSmiley** · 01-25-2005, 08:36 AM

I'm still looking for a good hub, with 7 ports or so.

Most hubs available here are USB2, and only 4 ports.

My laptop does have 1 USB1 port. I have a PCMCIA USB2 card with 4 USB2 ports, so enough USB2 for me. However, I want some devices on a USB1 port, since I don't want windows to popup with speed warnings (slow device, fast hub blabla)

I can connect 2 USB1 hubs to eachother,but I prefer 1 "big" hub.

USB1: Touchscreen, GPS, FM tuner, Mouse, mobile phone
USB2: Wireless Lan, DVDRom (external USB->IDE)

DVDRom is an old Pioneer Slotin drive, powered by a 7812 (1A @ 12V) and 7805 (1A @ 5v) regulator.

**Scouse Monkey** · 01-25-2005, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by mp3oplecarrier

I built a PSU for my optical drive for the old car using 5 and 12v regulators, seemed to work ok on the testbed, but I'll probably look for a slimline for the new car to keep things simple...

Steve

I worry that if the PSU i though about making for the drive didnt like crank i would have issues with windows losing a drive.

Are the ide--->USB adaters powered by the USB port? I was wondering if it actually mattered if the drive turned off briefly (as long as it wasnt being accessed - eg media drive) but the USB adapter stayed on. Maybe windows wouldnt notice.

**mp3oplecarrier** · 01-25-2005, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

I worry that if the PSU i though about making for the drive didnt like crank i would have issues with windows losing a drive.

Are the ide--->USB adaters powered by the USB port? I was wondering if it actually mattered if the drive turned off briefly (as long as it wasnt being accessed - eg media drive) but the USB adapter stayed on. Maybe windows wouldnt notice.

I used the same regulators as djsmiley, but my plan was to run this, my hub and USB to IDE from a notebook psu supplying 14v continuous (from 8-16v in).

I bought my IDE adaptor from Maplin, and it runs happily from 5v 1A although it comes with a 2A mains adaptor.

Steve