Mains or bus powered USB hub?

[Noel]

Other than charging things any real difference between the two?
It's only for comms for printers etc rather than powering anything.

 

[gregmcateer]

I've used both, not seen noticeable difference.
HTH
Greg

 

[morfa]

You only need powered if your devices are fairly thirsty. Also if you want to use lots of devices on the port, then often you'll run out of power USB ports can only provide a certain amount of power, so if you split that 4 ways and some of your devices need full power, you'll have issues.

But for most things, USB keys, powered external hard drives, printers etc, you'll be fine

 

[mlee]

Unless you're chaining them together a bus powered hub will work fine.

 

[Noel]

Thanks all. Much appreciated.

 

[SammyQ]

Noel, beware: some high capacity hard drives (backup) really blitz the living daylights out of USB ports. Powered hubs are a necessity for, say, 150Gb and up. I see enough nonsense ("failure to read files" etc) at work not to risk it at home. USB ports also seem to differ in capacity, depending on where they are plumbed in to the motherboard :? ? I use an 8Gb pen anywhere and charge my Cowon J3 etc via USB ports, but my crucial backup separate HDD is mains powered hub driven.

I'm hoping to get up 'home' this summer; with three 'across the water', I seem to be more in Bath or Edinburgh than I am on the banks of the Roe...

Health!! Sam

 

[Noel]

Noel, beware: some high capacity hard drives (backup) really blitz the living daylights out of USB ports. Powered hubs are a necessity for, say, 150Gb and up. I see enough nonsense ("failure to read files" etc) at work not to risk it at home. USB ports also seem to differ in capacity, depending on where they are plumbed in to the motherboard :? ? I use an 8Gb pen anywhere and charge my Cowon J3 etc via USB ports, but my crucial backup separate HDD is mains powered hub driven.

I'm hoping to get up 'home' this summer; with three 'across the water', I seem to be more in Bath or Edinburgh than I am on the banks of the Roe...

Health!! Sam

Thanks Sam, I'll keep that in mind.

Jez, it was god's oul garden up here when the sky was blue and the sun bating down on you, thirsty weather indeed. Beautiful on top of that hill behind me looking down across the lough when the boats were leaving:

 

[SammyQ]

Nice! I can almost feel the wind on Benevenagh!

Sam