Buy Powered USB Hub ???

Rickiev · Post by **Rickiev** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:00 am

Hey Guys,
I've search for a while looking for the posting that someone recommended a Powered USB Hub. I would like to purchase one, since I've got a few USB cables that I plug and unplug each time.

Or can anyone recommend a powered usb hub and also at what power level should it be ?

Thanks,
Richard

hsweiss · Post by **hsweiss** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:43 am

I too thought about buying a powered hub but I found that I could buy a USB 2.0 PCI card for less money and not have to worry about plugging the darn thing in. I got one with a VIA chipset for under $7 on eBay (including shipping - www.dealextreme.com also has them for about the same amount) with 4 external USB 2.0 ports and 1 internal port. Popped in the card, XP found it and it works great. In fact, MJ works much better on one of these ports than it did on the original mother board USB 1.1 ports (old box).

Rickiev · Post by **Rickiev** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:39 am

hsweiss wrote:I too thought about buying a powered hub but I found that I could buy a USB 2.0 PCI card for less money and not have to worry about plugging the darn thing in. I got one with a VIA chipset for under $7 on eBay (including shipping - www.dealextreme.com also has them for about the same amount) with 4 external USB 2.0 ports and 1 internal port. Popped in the card, XP found it and it works great. In fact, MJ works much better on one of these ports than it did on the original mother board USB 1.1 ports (old box).

I have a Sony Notebook, PCI card not gonna work for me

hsweiss · Post by **hsweiss** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:45 am

Yeah, guess you need a powered hub.....

MJ-in-DC · Post by **MJ-in-DC** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:03 pm

I tried several powered USB hubs (all sub $10) and none of them worked right.

Thanks to MJ Live Chat Support I eventually found this hub that was quite a bit more expensive but I figured if I'm using it with a service that's saving me $100's I can afford to spend it.

It's a tiny 4-port hub but the power supply that comes with it is really powerful: 2000mA. At about 24 bucks including the shipping it wasn't cheap, but it solved the problems I was having: low audio and frequent drops.
MJ Live chat actually recommended this one and for once they were right! (the guy did tell me that they were not supposed to recommend specific stores, but I guess he felt sorry for me!) The problem I was having was that the computer simply did not have a stable enough and powerful enough power output on the USB port.
I got mine here: http://www.windmilltrading.com/USBProds ... 4U2ABK.htm

Hope this helps someone!

MyOwnMJ · Post by **MyOwnMJ** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:28 pm

MJ-in-DC wrote:I tried several powered USB hubs (all sub $10) and none of them worked right.
Thanks to MJ Live Chat Support I eventually found this hub that was quite a bit more expensive but I figured if I'm using it with a service that's saving me $100's I can afford to spend it.

It's a tiny 4-port hub but the power supply that comes with it is really powerful: 2000mA. At about 24 bucks including the shipping it wasn't cheap, but it solved the problems I was having: low audio and frequent drops.
MJ Live chat actually recommended this one and for once they were right! (the guy did tell me that they were not supposed to recommend specific stores, but I guess he felt sorry for me!) The problem I was having was that the computer simply did not have a stable enough and powerful enough power output on the USB port.
I got mine here: http://www.windmilltrading.com/USBProds ... 4U2ABK.htm

Hope this helps someone!

Is the Windmilltrading THE powered USB Hub to get for the MagicJack? I am thinking about getting this one.

For the many out there who bought this USB Hub, did it solve your MagicJack audio problems?

Thx.

MJ-in-DC · Post by **MJ-in-DC** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:36 pm

MyOwnMJ wrote: Is the Windmilltrading THE powered USB Hub to get for the MagicJack?

I don't have the newest version they have on their website (I got the older one), but a buddy of mine bought one last week. It solved his problems. He had 2 problems: dropped one-way audio all the time (it got to the point he was about to simply give up on MJ) and frequently the phone would simply not ring. He could see a call come in on his computerr screen, but the phone would not ring. He'd pick up and the conversation would be OK until either incoming or outgoing audio was dropped.
The hub he bought solved all those problems and he's a happy camper now.

I'm sure others here will chime in as well with similar feedback.
On top of that was that he received his hub in like 2 days. He said that was the fastest he'd ever bought ANYTHING online. Without even paying for upgraded shipping. Bonus.

Too bad the folks at Windmilltrading don't sell something to fix my crappy cellphone reception!

MyOwnMJ · Post by **MyOwnMJ** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:56 pm

MJ-in-DC wrote:
MyOwnMJ wrote: Is the Windmilltrading THE powered USB Hub to get for the MagicJack?
I don't have the newest version they have on their website (I got the older one), but a buddy of mine bought one last week. It solved his problems. He had 2 problems: dropped one-way audio all the time (it got to the point he was about to simply give up on MJ) and frequently the phone would simply not ring. He could see a call come in on his computerr screen, but the phone would not ring. He'd pick up and the conversation would be OK until either incoming or outgoing audio was dropped.
The hub he bought solved all those problems and he's a happy camper now.

I'm sure others here will chime in as well with similar feedback.
On top of that was that he received his hub in like 2 days. He said that was the fastest he'd ever bought ANYTHING online. Without even paying for upgraded shipping. Bonus.

Too bad the folks at Windmilltrading don't sell something to fix my crappy cellphone reception!

MJ-in-DC,

I'm gonna go ahead and order the powered hub.

I have calls dropped, and intermittent dead silence for about 5 seconds during a conversation. Also, sometimes others on the other line can't hear me -- too quiet.

Hope this will fix some of my MJ audio probs.

Thanks for you feedback.

MyOwnMJ
Thanks

MJ-in-DC · Post by **MJ-in-DC** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:05 pm

You're welcome!
Don't forget to let us know how it works out for you so others can benefit from your experience.

MyOwnMJ · Post by **MyOwnMJ** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:39 pm

I got the powered hub. It does help in my situation. Though this is a 100% fix, I do notice a big improvement with others able to hear me better and me hearing them better too.

Popgory · Post by **Popgory** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:20 pm

MJ-in-DC wrote:
MyOwnMJ wrote: Is the Windmilltrading THE powered USB Hub to get for the MagicJack?

I'm sure others here will chime in as well with similar feedback.
On top of that was that he received his hub in like 2 days.

I had a less than stellar experience with Windmilltrading. Ya it shipped quick. After verify that their hub was rec'd DOA and waiting for them to propose a solution, I went out and purchased a Kensington 7-port, 5A.

Yes, it cost more and is bigger. More importantly, the power supply is heavier and has much more insulation.

For the record, I am still waiting on Windmilltrading for the RMA that I requested. I understand that stuff happens, but when the communication goes south, I will post so others are aware. Tomorrow's letter goes to Paypal.

mattg3 · Post by **mattg3** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:49 pm

person Im talking to has frequent drop outs and breaks up.They can hear me.Im on wifi network on a gateway laptop.Will a powered usb help me with my problem?

Popgory · Post by **Popgory** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:03 pm

Popgory wrote:
MJ-in-DC wrote:
MyOwnMJ wrote: Is the Windmilltrading THE powered USB Hub to get for the MagicJack?

I'm sure others here will chime in as well with similar feedback.
On top of that was that he received his hub in like 2 days.
I had a less than stellar experience with Windmilltrading. Ya it shipped quick. After verify that their hub was rec'd DOA and waiting for them to propose a solution, ...

Just heard from Richard at Windmill Trading. His system was hit with a root-kit. Stand-up called me to follow-up.

Okay, I take it all back, in public.

Windmill Trading -> EXCELLENT customer service. Way to go Richard!!

newtoncd · Post by **newtoncd** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:04 am

Popgory wrote:
Just heard from Richard at Windmill Trading. His system was hit with a root-kit. Stand-up called me to follow-up.

Okay, I take it all back, in public.

Windmill Trading -> EXCELLENT customer service. Way to go Richard!!

Yes, customer service is amazing at Windmill Trading.

RisingJackForce · Post by **RisingJackForce** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:15 am

MyOwnMJ wrote:I got the powered hub. It does help in my situation. Though this is a 100% fix, I do notice a big improvement with others able to hear me better and me hearing them better too.

Are you behind a firewall or a router? it may have problem sometimes. . .

MyOwnMJ · Post by **MyOwnMJ** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:45 am

I have a router.