Belkin Network USB Hub (F5L009) - problem solved!

I bought the Belkin hub a few days ago and set it up. It installed correctly on my Macbook Pro, running OS X 10.4, two Windows 7 laptops and Windows XP, running on my iMac via Parallels.

It would not run on the iMac 10.6. Re-read the box description and found that 10.6 wasn't supported. Went to Belkin's support and found a download for 10.5 but nothing for 10.6. Sent an email to support requesting info on any 10.6 upgrades in the pipeline and, after two days, was told that, as the unit was now obsolete, there would be no support or new drivers.

I wasn't overly bothered as I could print and scan under Windows which is where Office and Photoshop are. Tonight I got bloody minded and felt there should be an answer somewhere so started trawling through the discussions. I found your post and followed the included link. After download it appeared slightly different to what you stated so followed the Silex instructions. The Software installed and, following re-start, ran perfectly, picking up the three printers and scanner.

Many thanks for your post. My grey hair can remain in place a while longer.

Thanks petero 221,

you have made my life a lot easier. I would never have found the answer by trawling the net. Your solution worked first time.🙂

I'm afraid I was a little premature. The software installed correctly and the hub appears on the dock ok and the external drive that I have connected to the hub shows and when selected it shows connected to the mac. However it does not appear on the desktop or in finder. Any advice please?

I'd like to add my thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. I've had a couple of the Belkin units for a while but they have become unreliable as the OS has upgraded under them. I kept looking at the Belkin site hoping for a new s/w version but of course no luck.

I looked at the silex site and found a download - an even later version than the one the OP pointed to. I simply installed it, it's called "SX Virtual Link", ie I didn't change the package contents as the OP suggested. It seems to do all the same things as the Belkin s/w just with a slightly different GUI. I'm now using this instead of the Belkin s/w. (I should add that I'm using it to interface to USB printers and scanners, so I can't comment on USB storage)

It's too early to tell if it will be more reliable but it's certainly more recent (the download page says OSX 10.6) so I'd recommend Belkin hub users to consider using it.

Keith

The Lion has roared and guess what, the guys at Belkin have done a vanishing act. I tried re-installing and got a message that PowerPC applications are no longer supported. So, no more Belkin USB Hub for the OSX Lion.

Have a look at the silex site, it looks to me as if the SX Virtual Link is an Intel program. I'm not runnning Lion so I haven't tested whether it is supported.

Keith

Keith,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I think the problem is with the Belkin software. The setup program seems to be written for PowePC rather than Intel. So when I launch the setup program from the Belkin package (after replacing with Silex file) I get a message that PowerPC programs not supported anymore.

yes, but ... <smile>

What I did, and what has worked for me, is to junk the Belkin s/w in its entirety and install the whole package from silex. It looks to me as if the innards of the Belkin box are the silex hardware / microcode, the silex s/w talks to it perfectly as far as I can see.

I suppose I should add a government health warning: I have not subjected this to extensive testing with all sorts of equipment etc. I'm running 10.6.8 and I'm using the Belkin boxes (2) to interface to a number of printers (HP, Epson, Dymo) and a scanner (Epson). It works better than the Belkin s/w ever did, doesn't hang, doesn't seize devices when it's been told not to, ... And it seems to be up-to-date and maintained.

YMMV but I strongly recommend you give it a try!

Good luck!

Keith

Thanks Keith,

Tried it. Seems like I am doing something wrong, as I click on the Cosetup file from the Silex downloaded package, nothing happens. Quite weird.

Odd, as you say.

In the same folder as cosetup, there should be two other folders: SXVirtualLink & Uninstall. Inside the first of there are three packages and another folder: contained packages. In this folder there are aplication, driver, and help folders. Is all present and correct?

For me, double clicking cosetup starts the installer. If all is present and correct, try using "open with" in the finder.

Keith

Keith,

Checked what you said. All present. Still didn't work. Tried using the .pkg file to install. It did install the software and restarted the MBA. When I try connecting to the HP AIO Photosmart printer, it says the connection failed. Not sure what that means.

Have you quit and trashed the Belkin s/w? Might there be a conflict?

When you say "tried using the .pkg", which .pkg do you mean? There are three and they look as if they are meant for OSX 10.3 10.5, and 10.6.

I downloaded what I'm using from here:

http://www.silexamerica.com/support/software/svl.html

Is that what you have? Is it worth trying a fresh download (if you tried the package substitution trick earlier in this thread maybe the packages are not complete)?

I don't recall whether I restarted my machine after the installation, might it be worth trying that? [What's the MBA you mention?]

Keith

Keith. It worked. I was trying the generic installer. When I tried installing using the .pkg file under the 10.6 folder, it worked without issues though it did ask me to restart post installation.

Thanks a lot for your guidance.

Good, that's at least two of us for whom it works!

The generic installer worked for me but if you have got it working somehow then that's the main thing.

I'm not about to buy Belkin again ....

Keith

Thanks Keith.

About not buying Belkin again, that +1.😉