I would like to do all my USB connections through one hub, as there are so many.
I have tried a couple of camera's, but they are not recognised, I thought it may only apply to one, but it looks like it will not be accepting anything just like that.
I plugged the webcam into the hub & the fan sounds a lot more ferocious & noisy than when it is plugged direct into the laptop. Does anyone know why this is ?
Also is there an easy way to re asign everything via the hub or will it be a battle?
Thanks
I've found that not all USB hubs are equal, and that cameras in particular can be very fussy about their connections. Oh, and my limited experience of USB and Windows suggests that you'll probably be asked to re-install the drivers every time you change the physical socket you plug the device into...
You need to be careful with Hubs too as they may introduce electrical noise into your imaging train. You'll only be able to tell by doing side by side comparison images.
I think Robert went through hell trying to sort his hub out :(
He should be able to help you avoid any pitfalls, or at least steer you in the right direction.
and just to continue the hub bashing the USB spec includes providing up to 500mA at 5V to power devices. Straightforward webcams fall into this category. However, the PC is only capable of supplying, if you're lucky, 500mA to one device. If you put a hub in, it'd be merrily consuming a chunk of that 500mA leaving a good deal less for anything after it. This is why the majority of hubs have a small power jack to take an external supply. The hub will then be able to supply 500mA to each downstream port.
In my experience, you will get away with usb to serial adaptors, mice, keyboards and so on without too much difficulty. I would give a webcam it's own port. The main imaging camera will have it's own power supply so should be ok.
The other thing to note is bus bandwidth. That is, how much data can be passed on any one port. A webcam, if it's USB 1.1, will use all available bandwidth when imaging a video stream. If you plan on running anything else plugged into the same port on the laptop, expect dropped frames and connection issues if bandwidth becomes saturated.
And another thing. If you plug a USB 1.1 device into a USB 2 port, the laptop port will have to slow down to 1.1 speeds. For *all devices* on the port.
In short, consider the power requirements, if it moves, makes a noise, has lights or gets warm, expect it to need it's own port, or a powered hub.
If it's moving lots of data around, give it a laptop port to itself.
Keep v1.1 devices off the bus if there's a v2 device moving lots of data around (thumbdrives, cameras and so on)
I promise not to mention the fact that some laptops may have two or more usb ports, but internally they may be on the same bus.
B......y hell!!!!
Thanks for all that, lot to think about
sorry, that was a bit of a brain dump, wasn't it. :oops:
It has to be told as it is, Ian.
The trouble is, when I am slewing etc etc, I have to pick my table up, with the laptop, & walk around until the mount stops. By then about 15 cables are all wrapped around everywhere, this includes cables that are not connected to USB.
If there was only, one. it would be so much easier.
Fay dont bother with a hub, far too much hastle.
go for one of these.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47100 (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47100) or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-PCMCIA-Port-Expansion-Card/dp/B000PIZTB2/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238077076&sr=8-16 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-PCMCIA-Port-Expansion-Card/dp/B000PIZTB2/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238077076&sr=8-16)
you will probably find the amazon one dosent come with a power supply, thats why its only a fiver..
Asuming you have a pcmcia card slot on the side of your laptop.
it has a power socket on the card, so any devices that need to be powered can be.
Just by pluging the power supply in to the card.
Other devices just toodle along with out any problems,
I have my H9 pluged in to this normally.
It gives you four High speed usb2 ports, and allows you to run them all at full speed.
No bottlenecks.
I use these. (shameless plug there), but i have the 2 port belkin as my laptop already has 4 usb ports anyway.
If your having to move the laptop to stop the camles from tugging how about getting extensions.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97266 (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97266)
Mac.
Mac, I do use one of those cards, sometimes.
If I used this setup:
USB
Canon 2
Shoestring 1
Webcam/guide 2
Robo 1
PCMCIA Card 1
I need 7 USB ports. The laptop has 4.
I do have enough ports on the laptop, sometimes don't need the card.
I was thinking, as well, while I do not have another laptop for Develo, I could run a USB cable indoors, so could sit in warm if too cold outside, with the laptop, but could only do that if I put an extension on the one USB connection. Does that all make sense, I could be rambling!!
I'd bundle the cables up and make a loom, like I described in one of Caroles threads. Then you can have any number of cables, but look after them together.
Where have you explained that, Ian?
this post:
http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=4452.msg23909#msg23909
QuoteI could run a USB cable indoors, so could sit in warm if too cold outside
why not run a network cable to the laptop, and sit at your desktop controlling it from there.
using remote access.
so much easier..
It is too far away.
I do not want to use the connection via the mains unless I get a new laptop, as I do all my finances on the desktop & do not want any risks.
you can get USB repeaters like this. Apparently you can use up to 5 daisychained http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-Active-Repeater-Extension-Cables/dp/B000IM9AG0
These draw power from the bus and they are only one USB connection, so you might need to run several. That's why Mac's plan is better as far as cables run are concerned. It does have other difficulties though, such as remote control software and setting up. A compromise either way.
Hi Fay,
I did go through nightmares with USB hubs but it was XP that ended up being the culprit in the end, I certainly don't want to go through that again.
My setup now appears to work a treat and is as follows:
Everything scope side plugs into a powered 7 port USB2 hub, each port is individually labeled with what plugs into it. I make sure that I plug each item into exactly the same port each time, that way XP doesn't have a chance of getting it wrong.
The powered hub connects to the laptop (in the summer house) via 12m of USB cable (2m + 5m active extender + 5m). Again I only ever plug it into the same LT port.
Mike could have a point about noise but what else is there to do. I'm not sure whether the H9 camera is USB2 but full frame downloads take about 3-4s.
The Hub is a 2 years old now, it's a Dlink and they still make it - http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=534C&CategorySelectedId=11128&InMerch=1 (http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=534C&CategorySelectedId=11128&InMerch=1)
btw. I bought mine from PC World but I can't seem to find it on their web site.
Hope this helps but if you need anything then just shout.
Robert
you won't see noise introduced by the USB in the image as we're used to, but it can cause retransmissions, dropped frames and connection difficulties.
QuoteIt is too far away.
A lan cable is far far cheaper then buying long usb cables.
you can get a 100m Lan cable quite easily,
As for the remote software its already built in to windows.
Its called remote desktop.
All you do is log on to your laptop from the desktop, and its the same as if you are sitting at the laptop.
You dont have to install any other software.
The only thing you need to do is to make sure you have a password set on the remote (laptop) computer
as if there isn't one set you cant logon.
I should add that the USB extenders are only to get to the LT in the summer house and that's the only reason I use such long cables. The LT is controlled from the house via Remote desktop and Powerline adaptors. Taking control via Remote desktop only works if you have XP Pro otherwise you have to look at alternatives like UltraVNC (free).