best external USB/FW hubs?

Question

best external USB/FW hubs?

Been a little concerned by what readers have posted about the Belkin and other external USB/FW hubs -- even those posted on Apple's pages that list recommended hubs. Many folks have complained that these things get extremely hot....Anyone have recommendation. My problem with some hubs I've seen is that the way the ports are placed your cables fork out in off directions and make a mess. Some of the Belkin hubs are designed ifferently but people say these get very hot. Also, will FW devices really run properly through one of these hubs? Lastly, I see some hubs list as NOT requiring an AC power supply. Do non-powerd hubs really work reliably?

Posted on Aug 15, 2005 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Aug 19, 2005 2:54 PM in response to David Chartrand

I have never used a combo Firewire/USB hub but I can't image that most of them get very warm.

I have separate USB and Firewire hubs and they never get warm.

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Answer 2

howwow

Level 4

3,541 points

Aug 20, 2005 1:58 AM in response to Duane

It is best to get Externally-powered hubs (USB and FW) 'cause there are reports that putting some "heavy" USB and/or FW devices on the ports on the iMac can "tax" the buses and problems ranging from lost Bluetooth and drives unmounting themselves.

Cheers

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Answer 3

Aug 20, 2005 10:28 AM in response to howwow

Yes,I agree. I have always bought powered hubs. But these comments about hubs running hot caught my attention. Wonder if they were powered or non-powered hubs? I have also found that if I plug from iSight camera (which is a FW plug) into my FW hub, the Mac soon loses track of it. I have to unplug and re-plug. Problem is running out of FW ports, what with iSight, exteranl FW hard drives for backups, input for my digital videocam, etc. lately I've resorted to a lot of daisy chaining-- plugging the exteranl LaCie drive into the Mac's FW port, then plugging iSight into the drive's other port. But I'd rather not have to do it that way.

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Answer 4

Aug 21, 2005 8:01 PM in response to David Chartrand

Hello David Chartrand,

Ok first a word on Hubs, especially, FireWire hubs.

Be aware that not all manufacturer's hubs are built to, or adhere to, 1394 standards, and may be damaged or cause system problems; If unsure, check with a potential supplier's support and get them to confirm that their product will comply with 1394 and work with Apple products Some don't.

The official FW specifications designate voltage from 8 - 30 Volts @+/- 10percent which means that if the vendors unit is not built to handle that voltage, it will fail.

Second, if your considering a Hub, you have a better chance of success with a Powered Hub, and, you have a better chance of success with a dedicated firewire hub rather than a combination USB/Firewire device

One example on the boards is a combo hub from IOGear which actually "popped" it's internal capacitors.

Hubs that are reported as working include but not limited to; Belkin Modelf5726slv and Belkin's 6-PortHub(F5U526APL). I use a good Macally Hub that ran about $ 80. and can be found here; http://www.macally.com/spec/firewire/connecting/hub_uf.html

Regarding iSight: I strongly suggest that you consider unplugging the iSight anytime your using any other FW device. If fact, since the iSight is never truly "off", just leave it unplugged until your actually going online to chat.
This applies weather you are using a hub or not, so unless you are chatting with a buddies, keep the iSight camera unplugged; hub or no hub. And you especially run a risk when doing backups to external FW HD's.

The only exception I've found is for some PowerBooks. From waht I can tell, the internal FW circuit/components used the other Mac series are not the same as used in my PB.

Hope this helps.

Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

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Answer 5

Aug 21, 2005 10:17 PM in response to Bill Gallagher

Thanks, Bill. Good advice. -- david c

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Answer 6

Aug 21, 2005 10:26 PM in response to David Chartrand

Just re-read your note again. Two questions: You said "you especially run a risk when doing backups to external FW HD's." A risk of what? YOu mean a risk to the iSight camera? I've always used external FW drives for backups, though not thru a hub. I generally hook them direct to the Mac. But they tend to use up the last of my FW ports. Second, you recommended that Macally hub. But it IS a combo usb/fw hub. Right? Tho you said to beware of such combo hubs, I assume you've had luck with this one? Basically, I've used USB hubs before with little problem. But hooking FW devices to a hub....well, I just don't know if it's realiable or not. Since my two FW ports are full now (with a scanner and ext FW drivs, I would probably remove the scanner and plug the hub into that port. Then into the FW hub I'd have to plug digital videocam, scanner and/or iSight camera. Perhaps best bet is to get a FW hub but only plug thesse items into it when needed, as opposed to leaving them plugged in all the time as I often to do with USB items.

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Answer 7

Aug 22, 2005 3:09 PM in response to David Chartrand

Hello David Chartrand,

Sorry for the confusion. My advice applied to not backing up data to external HD's with iSight also connected. The risk is of corrupting data/drive/backup drive. Not damage to the iSight cam.

No, I've had associates use that particular hub successfully. I use only one dedicated USB as I have 4 internal HD's and use the external FW-HD's one at a time, depending on which project is being worked on. One external HD/project; and then all data get's backed up to .mac at night.

Hope that helps.

Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

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Answer 8

Aug 22, 2005 6:24 PM in response to Bill Gallagher

Thanks again, Bill. I may order that Macally hub. .... I, too, like to use my .Mac iDisk accounts for internet backup at night. That's the safest. But also a whole 'nother subject. I suppose you've seen/read all the angry posts from .Mac users who have been unable to get the Backup software to run. I've fought the same problem off and on. All kinds of "internal system error" messages and failed backups. I have three .Mac accounts, all with iDisks kicked up to the maximum. I think the issue may have to do with people like me who are backing up huge amounts of data to iDisk. Er, by huge, I mean something approaching i gig.

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Answer 9

Sep 23, 2005 11:20 PM in response to Bill Gallagher

Coming to this thread a little late.

However, I had exactly this problem with my 15" flat-panel iMac G4. I was backing up to an external firewire drive connected directly to one of the two iMac ports, with iSight operational on the other. The drive crashed. So badly that it would't mount and all the usual recovery programs failed miserably. I lost everything.

Now, I'm 2 days into my brand new 20" iMac G5 and I'm rather shocked to find that iSight has exactly the same effect. My (different) external FW drive fails during writes; my iPod won't mount or sync properly. This is very disappointing.

Tony.

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Answer 10

Sep 24, 2005 4:44 AM in response to Welsh Baloney

Hello Welsh Baloney,

Sorry a bit too late for you Tony, but for anyone else reading this thread, NEVER run an external firewire HD while you have your iSight cam connected to the computer.

There is a very high chance that you will cause data corruption and possibly lose data as well.

Most of us keep the iSight unplugged at all times (it never really turns off completely as the FW port is still supplying power), and only use it when in AV/Chat.

Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

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