USB Ports, Adapters

If the OP's computer is more than five years old, he may have USB 2.0 ports, not USB 3.0. A quick way to tell is to look at the sockets. If the plastic inside the socket is blue, it is USB 3.0; if it is white, it is USB 2.0. This will put a limit on both the speed and the power available, as said.

Just to confuse things, most laptop mfrs use USB splitters on each side of the laptop, so that two ports on each side is actually only two USB ports total--again limiting bandwidth and available power.

The simplest USB 3.0 4-port UNpowered hubs cost around ten bucks and do a good job. Even if you have USB 2.0, I recommend you get a 3.0 splitter, such as made by Anker or Sabrent.

Any device that has its own power supply can run from an UNpowered USB hub. Sometimes they can benefit from a powered hub. I don't know why but I have a LOT of experience trying to get these stupid things to work together.

Sometimes a powered hub that's UNDER powered can makes things worse, even for powered devices. I have thrown away several UNDER powered USB hubs because I didn't read the specs carefully. What happens is that the USB controllers mistakenly think a device has been removed and disconnect it, sending my blood pressure skyrocketing.

If the OP has several devices that require power and the requirements exceed the 900ma PER SIDE, NOT PER SOCKET (because they're likely connected), then I highly recommend the Anker 7-port 35-watt USB 3.0 hub, about $50. Unfortunately it is the size and shape of a cartoon of cigarette packs, but it does the job well and saves my blood pressure.

jerseyjim wrote:
I've got a BELKIN with 4 USB ports. Use it every day. No problems. My printer/copy/fax is hooked up to it more or less permanently. Other things, like a SD card reader (from the camera) goes in and out as needed. Thumb (flash) drives too...as needed. I don't think I've used more than 3 at the same time. Again...no problems.

This is because what you plug into it either has it's own power or the power requirements are minimal. Charge your phone and tablet at the same time and put in your card reader, that's when you'll see issues. And I think that's what the OP is asking about.

500ma. Or 900ma it STILL has too be shared among all the devices plugged into the adapter ports

An external portable USB hard drive or a high capacity high speed memory thumb drive, will use more power

My phone will automatically start charging when plugged into any USB port
I cannot use it on any shared power port

Printers, large external drives, digital cameras have their own power
Although a digital camera might draw charging power from the port

I use a non external powered USB PORT HUB all the time here to allow me to plug in additional USB devices...

This is a google photo similar to what I am using here...


Have not really noticed any degradation in my USB devices. I always try to use my high speed USB 2.0 port if available for the USB PORT HUB. Don't know if this helps any or not as I get the same results using the standard USB port on my DELL laptop.

I use this for additional printer, mouse, keyboard, and thumb drives when needed... My LAPTOP is setup to support dual 24-inch monitors so everything connected to the USB PORTS aids in this setup. I never open the screen lid of my laptop except to turn it on/off...

I have also plugged in a larger portable hard drive on occasion... All works fine here...

Roy Ken

The port on your laptop is technically a "root hub", and can address and manage up to 127 simultaneously connected devices at once. The thing to consider is how you split up the available power and data bandwidth. Power is not a problem if you use hubs that are self-powered. As for data, I would not plug an external hard drive or flash drive into the same root hub as my mouse, keyboard, etc.

One thing I didn't seen mentioned in the responses so far is speed. USB 1.1, 2,0 and 3.0 all have different speeds. You can generally connect lower speed devices to high speed USB ports but the overall effect will be to force every other USB device on that port to run at the lower speed. So plugging a USB port expander (hopefully a powered one) into a computer's USB port will give you more USB ports, but plugging something like your mouse into that port expander will cause other devices also connected to it to run a lot slower. Typically things like disk drives, geek sticks, cameras, printers, etc are all capable of running at higher speeds than your mouse or keyboard.

jerseyjim wrote:
I've got a BELKIN with 4 USB ports. Use it every day. No problems. My printer/copy/fax is hooked up to it more or less permanently. Other things, like a SD card reader (from the camera) goes in and out as needed. Thumb (flash) drives too...as needed. I don't think I've used more than 3 at the same time. Again...no problems.

Same here

I've got a BELKIN with 4 USB ports. Use it every day. No problems. My printer/copy/fax is hooked up to it more or less permanently. Other things, like a SD card reader (from the camera) goes in and out as needed. Thumb (flash) drives too...as needed. I don't think I've used more than 3 at the same time. Again...no problems.

MrWizard wrote:
only IF it is a POWERED adapter with its own 5v power supply

the 500ma from the PC USB is the MAX that port can supply
a two or three port adapter with no external supply must share the PC USB power with all the adapter ports, lowering the amount each port can supply

one trick is too put self powered drives, printers etc.. on the adapter
and use the other PC USB ports for memory sticks and items that use PC USB power
OR
get a port adapter that has its own external power supply, something else to plug into the "120v power strip" typically a 2 or 3amp 5v supply

Your reply is incomplete and somewhat misleading ....

That 500ma is for USB 1.0 and 2.0 and goes up to 900ma for USB 3.0. While not standard AFAIK USB sleep and charge ports can provide up to 1500ma power.

Larry

only IF it is a POWERED adapter with its own 5v power supply

the 500ma from the PC USB is the MAX that port can supply
a two or three port adapter with no external supply must share the PC USB power with all the adapter ports, lowering the amount each port can supply

one trick is too put self powered drives, printers etc.. on the adapter
and use the other PC USB ports for memory sticks and items that use PC USB power
OR
get a port adapter that has its own external power supply, something else to plug into the "120v power strip" typically a 2 or 3amp 5v supply