4 Port Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub (30″ cable)| Silver Adds 4 unpowered USB 3.0 ports to your computerUp to 5Gbps data transfer rateEasy to set up, Plug-n-Play, Hot swappable, Hot pluggableCompatible with all Windows/Mac/Linux systems.Sleek Apple-style design ideal.
Works perfect and looks so good! It's specially fitting if you have Apple products as it compliments them perfectly.
Here's a good tip! You can use the following power supply with this unit: PS-5V4A It's also available here on Amazon (and Prime to boot): The attached picture shows where the power supply plugs in. Using the power supply will allow you charge devices (phone, etc.) even while the computer is off. Also, it will prevent weird issues (random disconnections, etc.) you'll sometimes run into if you have too many power hung items plugged into the hub. Completely disappointed in this USB Hub. Originally purchased to support 4 external HDD's. Once I plugged it in along with the HDDs, nothing.
Did not work. After a bit of research, determined that I would need the external power supply. Would have been nice to know that ahead of time! Anyway, spent even more money to get the external power adapter, which, by the way, cost more than did the USB hub.Once I got the power adapter connected, the computer I intended to use this hub with, would not recognize the hub (this is a Windows 10 pc, which is claimed to be compatible). In troubleshooting, I moved the hub, power adapter, and external drives to another pc to test. It did recognize the hub on the other pc. So I went back to the original pc, because that is where I actually need the hub.
There are a few things to check when plugging in this hub. First, is the power adapter (yes I got the official Sabrent power adapter). When plugging it into the hub, be sure that the plug is in all the way is snug. This plug is not a perfect fit. Next be sure that all the USB cables that are plugged into the hub are in all the way and snug. And last, be sure the hub's USB cable is snug into the PC. Now you may think 'Duh!
That goes without saying!' No doubt, but this hub is apparently a delicate piece of work.
If you move the hub for better positioning, or move the drives plugged into the hub, the whole thing can go haywire. Once you have it working, don't touch it or move it!
Otherwise, the drives will go offline. That said, I'm going to buy another hub and use this one on a less critical pc. I won't buy this one again.
Completely disappointed in this USB Hub. Originally purchased to support 4 external HDD's. Once I plugged it in along with the HDDs, nothing.
Did not work. After a bit of research, determined that I would need the external power supply. Would have been nice to know that ahead of time! Anyway, spent even more money to get the external power adapter, which, by the way, cost more than did the USB hub.Once I got the power adapter connected, the computer I intended to use this hub with, would not recognize the hub (this is a Windows 10 pc, which is claimed to be compatible). In troubleshooting, I moved the hub, power adapter, and external drives to another pc to test. It did recognize the hub on the other pc. So I went back to the original pc, because that is where I actually need the hub.
There are a few things to check when plugging in this hub. First, is the power adapter (yes I got the official Sabrent power adapter).
When plugging it into the hub, be sure that the plug is in all the way is snug. This plug is not a perfect fit. Next be sure that all the USB cables that are plugged into the hub are in all the way and snug. And last, be sure the hub's USB cable is snug into the PC. Now you may think 'Duh! That goes without saying!' No doubt, but this hub is apparently a delicate piece of work.
If you move the hub for better positioning, or move the drives plugged into the hub, the whole thing can go haywire. Once you have it working, don't touch it or move it!
Otherwise, the drives will go offline. That said, I'm going to buy another hub and use this one on a less critical pc. I won't buy this one again. I purchased this device to avoid plugging and unplugging items from the back of my iMac. The style and appearance of it is very sleek and matches the Apple devices. The cord that connects it to the computer is so thick and non-pliable that the port is not able to sit flat under my screen.
I'm sure that over time, it will adjust but still pretty annoying. Something that wasn't advertised at all in the product description is that it features a small light. An downward facing, bright light that remains on as long as the computer is powered on. I tried covering it up with a small piece of cardboard as it reflected off the base of my computer, but light still leaks out. It is definitely worth mentioning that this Port caused some issues with my Wi-Fi. As all the other devices connected fine, I alternatively contacted Xfinity and Apple to try to repair my iMac connection issues.
No one could figure out the problem for about a week. My home Wi-Fi would show a strong connection but would act as though there was no internet connection. Then I received an email (on my handy, dandy Wi-Fi connected phone) from Amazon urging me to review my recent purchases. When I saw this item again, I started to wonder if it could possibly be the reason. I opened my browser and tried to check my email. As soon as I unplugged this little guy, BOOM, Internet connection restored. So thank you, Sabrent for a week's worth of confusion.
I will be returning this product. Works perfect and looks so good! It's specially fitting if you have Apple products as it compliments them perfectly. Here's a good tip! You can use the following power supply with this unit: PS-5V4A It's also available here on Amazon (and Prime to boot): The attached picture shows where the power supply plugs in. Using the power supply will allow you charge devices (phone, etc.) even while the computer is off. Also, it will prevent weird issues (random disconnections, etc.) you'll sometimes run into if you have too many power hung items plugged into the hub.
This hub works perfectly with my 2013 iMac with one caveat: as others have mentioned, this USB 3.0 device interferes with my wifi. While using this hub, my iMac cannot access the internet via my wireless network. It supposedly maintains connectivity (per MacOS), but I cannot access anything via the network. To make sure this was the case, I did an experiment: when I place my hand over the hub, making sure I completely cover it, my connectivity resumes.
I'm guessing there isn't enough shielding in either the hub or the hub/cable connection interface and it is emitting EMI. For now I've downgraded to a USB 2.0 cable (rather than in the included USB 3.0 cable), which is forcing the hub to operate using USB 2.0. This does not interfere with my wireless connection. Using USB 2.0 kind of defeats the purpose of a 3.0 hub, but it's better than the alternative. INSTALLATION: Upon arrival, I went ahead and installed this without reading the short instructions that came with it. After all, how hard can it be?
Luck was with me, as I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right, and did. On a 27' 5K, it says to use ONLY slot 1 or 4 of the 4 available USB ports. (I don't know why.) Also, it has clear guidance for installing it- part way into a USB slot, then gently into the vent slots on the bottom of the display, and finally, seating the USB plug all the way. The instructions also state that, 'This device can only read one memory card at a time.' THE PRODUCT: The color and finish matches my 27' 5K Retina PERFECTLY. This thing looks like an Apple add-on when installed.
Because of the way it's mounted, it feels VERY solid while inserting thumb drives and SD cards. However, the SD card slot is a little tight for insertion/removal of the SD card, and it only goes in far enough to cover the contacts. It would be easy to accidentally hit that since it sticks out so far. Perhaps that is the reason so many people are having issues with that slot over time. It seems as if the contacts inside the reader are being used to hold the SD card, and are wearing out faster than if the slot held the card, while the contacts just 'contacted' the card to read it. I'd prefer the card to be halfway in.
The Micro-SD goes in 'contacts-up', and seems fine. Likewise, the USB slots are fine. This is a nice product (made necessary by Apple's poor decision to put ALL their slots on the back) that will do what it's supposed to do.
Is it overpriced at $35? Sure, but you bought an Apple, so you're used to that!;-). This is my second purchase of this product after being very pleased with the first one; AND displeased with other vendors same type product ordered in the same time frame. I have used USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices plugged in to this 4 port hub with great success and better success here than other hubs I've purchased. For an un-powered hub this unit has handled my bluetooth dongles, cameras, and external hard drives very well. Note: Some usb 2.0 devices do not like to be connected to a 3.0 port despite claims of 'backwards' compatibility. In my significant testing those failures are with the 2.0 thing you are plugging in, and not with this hub.
I really, really wanted to like this thing, and it may be great for some people, but certainly not for me. I don't use a Mac Mouse, but instead a wireless USB trackball. For some reason, this port hub screws with that something awful. It was a little better when I plugged the receiver into the port hub instead of in the back of the iMac, but then it would stop working all together anytime the hub had to process any data (regardless of type - card or corded). The look is great, the fit is great (although the card reader in the front was.tight. like almost damaging the cards to get them in and out kind of tight), but it does not work for me. Two stars because I still want to believe.
This review is from only having the item one day, so I can't speak to its durability. But I ran it through its paces, and a couple of notes: first of all, the design is beautiful.You plug it into the back of your iMac, in the last USB slot, there are some little ridges that slip into the little vents that exist on the bottom of the iMac screen (this is fo 2012 and later models), and then it sits right under your screen. You have to hold your screen when you put a USB drive into it, just because your screen will swivel down if you don't, but the device itself seems to stay firmly mounted in place. Next, there's been some discussion about interference with blueTooth devices - I'm not sure why it WOULD interfere. It's just making a series of unpowered direct connections.
In any case, I found no interference issues with either my bluetooth magic keyboard (the kind with the number pad) nor with my trackpad, which is also bluetooth. At least so far. The three USB 3.0 ports that are included are FAST and I'm very happy with their speed, even when I plug in a USB 2.0 flash drive.
All three drives worked just fine, and right out of the box. However, I'm a little sorry I didn't forgo the SD and mini-SD port version in favor of the one that has four USB 3.0 ports instead.
That's because the SD drive is VERY SLOOOOW. It takes about 30 seconds for the computer to even recognize it, and takes forever to just copy or open any files on the SD card. In addition, the mini (or is it micro?) SD slot doesn't work at all - probably because you can't put the mini-SD card straight in - the drive is defective and angled, and so the card won't even fit it properly. If it did, I imagine it would be equally slow. I solve this handily by having cheap adapters, made by Sandisk and other companies, which accept SD or mini-SD cards at one end, and have male USB plugs at the other - thus allowing me to plug an SD card into one of the USB ports on this device.
If I do that, the contents of the SD card read and write as fast as any USB 3 device would - in other words, I can bypass the SD and mini-SD ports completely. If you are thinking of buying this to read those cards, then think again. But if you are buying this for an elegant solution to USB expansion (and to get some ports on the FRONT of the iMac), this is your baby. Just remember, these ports are NOT powered, so if you need to plug in anything that draws power, like an external hard drive, it should have its own power source!
Hope this review is helpful. I'll update it if I find that the device stops working or causes any bluetooth problems further into its life.