Questionflaky USB hubs?
Questionflaky USB hubs?
I generally rely on powered hubs for USB expansion, as they perform well. However, sometimes I opt for an unpowered hub just to connect low-power devices like a mouse and keyboard. These rarely function properly. I recently acquired one USB2 unpowered hub that has been acting up. When I connect it with a mouse, it fails immediately. If I move the hub to another port on the computer, the mouse works briefly before stopping again. This keeps happening repeatedly. What’s going on here? Also, when the mouse is plugged directly into my Mac, there are no issues at all. This behavior seems common with many unpowered USB hubs.
If you already know that unpowered USB hubs (splitters actually) doesn't work for you as you want it, then why waste your money and nerves on those?
As far as why it isn't working, well, USB 2.0 is rated up to 2.5W. Use 2-way splitter and you're looking <1.25W per port. If you have 4-way splitter then <0.75W per port. And so forth.
Non-LED KB uses 0.7W - 0.8W. Non-LED mice uses 0.4W - 0.5W.
As far as if there is any diff with Macs (e.g less than 2.5W per USB 2.0) vs PCs, i don't know. I haven't had any Macs (or any Apple products in that matter).
We're discussing a MOUSE. It's an LED wired mouse. It requires minimal current. A 2.5W splitter should cover the full 2.5W when only one device is connected. This mouse should consume around 500mW. If a USB splitter fails to power a mouse, what could it possibly be used for?
The issue seems to stem from heat issues. Even minor currents cause parts to warm up, possibly leading to shorts or disconnections. Changing the port or using a cooler component resolves the problem temporarily. The hub components likely cool down quickly when unplugged and plugged back in. These cheap hubs are built with inexpensive parts, which can affect performance and reliability. Manufacturer specifications are often questionable as well.