USB hubs etc.

[divxdude]

what do i need to run a gaggle of webcams on a laptop?

i bought a couple cheepo hubs on ebay but when i connect my flash drive to them i get low speed warnings from winXP.

i suppose externally powered would help...? laptop doesnt offer a lot power for usb devices?

working with a low budget here.

do the long extender cables with booster offer any aid? should those be used with powered hubs ?

and should be connected near side or far side of a booster extension?

can i just make short extenders into long ones with 30 feet of CAT5? can i just add my own external power supply to that cable ? what type supply can i use? perhaps a wall wart i may already have lying around?

could i possibly ask more questions?

 

[gorcorps]

Powered USB hubs will help with power, but won't help your low speed warnings. You must have bought USB1 hubs instead of USB2, which will probably cause some issues depending on the camera.

 

[divxdude]

these are the hubs. they are clearly marked as 2.0.

defective?

i am also using a short extender but it causes no warnings.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-4-Port-USB-2-0-480Mbps-High-Speed-Cable-Hub-PC-/280501959604
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-PORT-USB-2-0-HIGH-SPEED-HUB-LAPTOP-PC-COMPUTER-MAC-/280641162556

 

[Slugbait]

Ignore how they are "clearly marked". They are Chinese. You bought them from Tomtop. They're not supposed to work correctly.

But since you bought them via eBay, Tomtop are more likely to quickly refund to avoid bad feedback. Contact them quickly, you only have 7 days to contact them from receiving, and another 3 days to send them back.

 

[bruceb]

Personally, I would just say "chalk it up to experience" chuck them and buy a good one from a company like Belkin. Their products work fine. It is not worth your time to ship these back to Hong Kong. You already paid postage once, that will not be refunded, nor will the shipping fees you incur and packing to send it back. Item cost makes it a throw-away item.

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.process?Section_Id=205966

Plenty of nice ones here:

http://www.usb-ware.com/usb-hubs.htm

Or your nearest Microcenter / Fry's if you have one. I bought my powered Belkin 7 port model from my local Target for about $25