USB Hubs - Page 3

HiJackZX1 · 06-12-2008, 05:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JimmyFitz

I can't give a definitive "why" answer about this but when my powermate was connected directly to its own port, it would fail on restart about half the time. I could reboot the PC (but the button is in the trunk) and it would work. I discovered that if I simply unplugged the powermate from the USB port and then plugged it back in a few seconds later, Windows would recognize a new device and reinitialize it and it would work. My guess is that powering the hub the way I have it now makes windoze reinit the powermate every time I restart from standby. I am not sure, but I haven't had to "fix" the powermate since hooking the hub up this way.

OMG you know something.... im having this issue with my SoundBlaster Live USB. After coming out of hibernation I wont have sound, I have to unplug the SB then plug it back in.... i thought it was a bandwidth issue (sometimes I would get a prompt), but I now think it was simply a error, because once I would unplug and plug it back in, it worked perfect. I was warned never to put the SB on a hub, so what I did is add a 2.0 USB card to my setup, im hoping this will clear up the issue. If not i'll put it on the hub.... but in saying that, if I do it the other way around, put my sprint card or belkin 54g on the hub, those devices will have issues and I have to unplug and plug back in.... but if I use onboard, im fine.......

nasa · 06-12-2008, 05:49 AM

Could someone explain how to modify a usb cable to remove the 5v line?

HiJackZX1 · 06-12-2008, 06:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by nasa

Could someone explain how to modify a usb cable to remove the 5v line?

remove it? why would you do that?if im not mistaken, the outer prongs on the USB cable are power.... on is gorund and the otehr is 5v+.... the 2 in the middle are data.

nasa · 06-12-2008, 06:23 AM

For a type A connector (which is the type in question)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USB.svg

Your correct. So do I just remove the hot pin to kill the power?

JimmyFitz · 06-12-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by nasa

For a type A connector (which is the type in question)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USB.svg

Your correct. So do I just remove the hot pin to kill the power?

Yes, just disconnect the hot pin. I got a cheap extension with the end connectors I needed (male type A to male mini) and cut the ends off about 6" long each. Then strip the wires and determine which goes to pin 1 on the male A. Splice the other three wires back together and heat shrink as appropriate. If your cable has a shield conductor, splice that back together too. Then I pluged this hacked adapter in right at the input to my hub which is inside my floor console. If I ever decide to move the hub, I won't forget the adapter because it is right there with it. Also the USB cable from the PC in the trunk will be back to normal powered type if I want to plug something else in there instead of the hub.

nasa · 06-12-2008, 12:04 PM

Whilst I am busy asking questions about usb hubs, I figured I press my luck for a little more info....

If a hub is being powered from an external source that is receiving it's power from the car's ACC line, will there be problems created from mismatched *timing*? ie: (assuming the external power source comes on/off as soon as the key is turned) The computer takes 10 seconds before it powers on and takes about 30-45 seconds to shutdown, will there be driver issues with the computer?

I ask because my usb devices connected via a hub work sporatically and the problem exist with/without power to the hub in question, different hubs in the same *position*, or different combos of devices attached. I hope to try my newly modified cable suggested by JimmyFitz after work, but I wanted to gather any other suggestions before I start working on it again....

BTW: if powering off the devices before Windows shuts down, would using something like EWF solve this (since EWF keeps the same state between each boot....)?

Curiosity · 06-12-2008, 03:31 PM

If you can get to it easy enough, just pull the USB cable to simulate it. Plug it in when you turn ACC on, and unplug it when you turn the key off. Do it a few times to make sure everything is going to work the way you want.