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booboo · Feb 28, 2007, 06:10 AM

Short version: Title says it all, really.

Long Version: My mother has an iMac G5 and 4 peripherals that need power - eyeTV, Apple keyboard, mouse and a horrid USB ADSL modem. All of these need power but the iMac just gives a 'Current Over' message. In fact, the 'Current Over' message happens with just the modem and the eyeTV.

I bought a Belkin powered hub but it doesn't have enough juice for the DSL modem and isn't suitable for the eyeTV.

Can anyone recommend a USB2 hub - preferably one that doesn't look like something some cheapo PC manufacturer knocked up - that can actually power stuff - specifically one withenough juice to power a SpeedTouch USB ADSL modem. . . .

Your advice is much appreciated.

mduell · Feb 28, 2007, 01:17 PM

Did you plug the Belkin powered hub into the wall with the included AC adapter? I know this seems like a silly question, but I've seen people who thought the power for a powered hub magically came out of the air.

If that's not the issue, I'd try this one: Newegg.com - LINKSYS USB2HUB4 USB2.0 4-Port Hub - Retail
Linksys is generally a good brand and there are a lot of positive reviews.

booboo · Feb 28, 2007, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Did you plug the Belkin powered hub into the wall with the included AC adapter? I know this seems like a silly question, but I've seen people who thought the power for a powered hub magically came out of the air.
.

Yes, the Belkin was plugged into the mains via its wall-wart.

I think the USB modem draws the maximum current allowed by the USB spec, and the hub just doesn't have enough juice for it.

mduell · Feb 28, 2007, 06:59 PM

The Linksys I linked to says it draws 2.4A from the wall wort, which is enough to give the spec-max of 0.5A to each port and still have 0.4A left over for the hub logic itself.

booboo · Feb 28, 2007, 09:14 PM

Well thanks for that. It's ugly as sin, but I'm going to go with it - if | can find one here in the UK.

booboo · Mar 1, 2007, 09:15 AM

It's discontinued in the UK - can't find it anywhere. . . .

kamina · Mar 1, 2007, 10:16 AM

I have an Alink HUBU2 which is a powered 4-port USB2 hub that works fine with everything I tested (Canon S3, Miglia TVMini, Ipod).

booboo · Mar 1, 2007, 12:05 PM

Well your Alink must be pretty rare - can't even find one in Google. D-Link by any chance?

kamina · Mar 2, 2007, 04:26 AM

Nope, A-Link. It's a similar crap brand as D-Link, pretty common here.

Welcome to A-Link.com

edit:

Here's the hub: A-LINK Europe -- USB 2.0 4-port Hub