USB and FireWire
Ratings and Reviews of USB and FireWire Hubs and Adapters |
USB and FireWire
Choosing a USB or FireWire hub is a fairly simple
combination of:
- Price per Port - what does the device cost on
a "per port" basis? So be sure to look at the number of ports/devices
that switch or hubs supports (and always plan for expansion! You'll be
surprised how your needs will change, and how quickly those changes will
occur!) and the price!
- Support Options - online, "800", "chat" with
live agents, electronic mail and a comprehensive "FAQ" (Frequently Asked
Questions) area will be a big help if you do run into any trouble with your
switch/hub.
- Manufacturer History and Reputation - it may
sound like a "little" thing, but when you are choosing anything that is
critical to the operation of your business, make sure that you're purchasing
gear from a manufacturer that will still be around next year!
- USB 1.0/1.1 versus USB 2.0, FireWire 400 versus
FireWire 800 - USB 1.0/1.1
supports speeds of 12 Mbps while USB 2.0 supports 480 Mbps (40 times faster!).
If your PC and device can support the faster standard, it makes sense to spend
a few dollars more and get an USB 2.0 compatible hub. The same goes for
FireWire - more speed is almost always better!
When purchasing your switch or hub, a couple of reminders!
- Make sure you have all the cables you'll need!
- Plan for expansion. If you need 4 ports, don't buy a
4 port hub! You'll be sorry if you do in 5 months or so - believe us!
So, let's take a look at the multiplicity of manufacturers you
have to choose from! We've tried to hit on the majority of web and network
cameras and their manufacturers. In fact, the number was so large, that we
had to build a separate document with all the choices on them (and relevant
information). You can find this document at: FireWire
and USB Hubs/Adapters.
Additionally, we've chosen our favorite hub/adapter/card from every manufacturer. Just look for the
ย
symbol!
USB and FireWire Hub and Adapter Review
USB/FireWire Hubs and Adapters*
(Rankings - best, 5 symbols,
worst, 1 symbol)
|
Company |
Best For* |
Simple Start-Up |
Cost |
Time Savings |
Ease of Use |
Works With |
Support |
Features |
Overall Rating |
|
Addonics |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน
|
@@@@ |
YYYY1/2 |
ppp1/2 |
iii1/2+ |
%%%1/2+ |
|
Adesso
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY1/2 |
ppp |
iii |
%%%+ |
|
ADS Tech.
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
pppp |
iiii1/2 |
%%%%+ |
|
AVB
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน
|
@@@@
|
YYYY
|
ppp
|
iii |
%%%1/2 |
|
BAFO
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน
|
@@@@
|
YYY1/2
|
ppp
|
iii1/2+ |
%%%1/2+ |
|
Belkin
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
pppp1/2 |
iiii |
%%%%+ |
|
Buslink
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY1/2 |
ppp1/2 |
iii1/2+ |
%%%1/2+ |
|
CNet
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
CODi
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
pppp |
iii+ |
%%%+ |
|
Connect Gear
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii |
%%%1/2 |
|
Digi
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY+ |
ppp |
iii1/2 |
%%%+ |
|
D-Link
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2+ |
|
Digital Research
|
ARP |
นนนน |
Inc. |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii |
Inc. |
|
Dynamode
|
ARP |
นนนน |
Inc. |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii |
Inc. |
|
Edimax
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp |
iii |
%%%1/2 |
|
Encore
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii+ |
%%%1/2 |
|
Ezonics
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
ppp |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
EZQuest
|
ARP |
นนน1/2 |
$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
Hawking Tech.
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii+ |
%%%1/2+ |
|
Interactive Media Kanguru
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
IO Gear
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iiii |
%%%% |
|
I/O Magic
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii+ |
%%%+ |
|
i-rocks
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
pp1/2 |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
JAHT
|
ARP |
นนนน |
N/A |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp |
iii |
N/A |
|
Jasco
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iii+ |
%%%1/2 |
|
JMTek
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY1/2 |
ppp |
iii |
%%%+ |
|
Kensington
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
pppp |
iii1/2+ |
%%%% |
|
Keyspan |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
Koutech Systems |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp1/2 |
iiii |
%%%% |
|
LaCie |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
pppp1/2 |
iii |
%%%1/2+ |
|
Linksys
(Cisco)
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
pppp1/2 |
iii |
%%%1/2+ |
|
Macally |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
pppp |
iii1/2+ |
%%%
% |
|
Macsense |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp |
iii |
%%%
+ |
|
Micro Innov. |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
pppp |
iiii |
%%%
% |
|
Okion |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY1/2 |
ppp1/2 |
iii1/2 |
%%%
1/2 |
|
QPS |
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$1/2 |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY1/2 |
ppp |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2+ |
|
RATOC Systems
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
ppp |
iii1/2 |
%%%1/2 |
|
Sabrent
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY1/2 |
ppp |
iiii |
%%%% |
|
Sakar
|
ARP |
นนนน |
N/A |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY |
ppp |
iii |
N/A |
|
SIIG
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYY1/2 |
ppp+ |
iiii1/2 |
%%%% |
|
SMC
|
ARP |
นนนน |
$$$$ |
นนนน |
@@@@ |
YYYY |
pppp1/2 |
iii+ |
| | 
