USB 2.0 Tetra Hub

Rating:
Summary: Belkin has another winner in Tetra Hub!
Review: Here are a few details you should know about the Tetra Hub. You have to buy the darn thing to figure this out.

The Tetra Hub must be connected to a USB 2.0-compliant host in order to function in high-speed mode (480Mbps data rate). If the Hub is connected to a USB 1.1-compliant host, it will operate only in low-speed or full-speed mode (1.5Mbps/12Mbps).

Note: The Hub itself will always connect to the host as either a full- or high-speed device, never as a low-speed device. Any idiot that tries to use this with an old USB 1.0 PC port will find it does not work, duh! These are the people who write Amazon reviews denigrating a product and they have not a clue as to how it is supposed to function. I really like the one where someone at Belkin tech support said to take it back and go buy someone else's hub, i.e. "GO AWAY!"

The Belkin Tetra Hub provides four downstream USB ports that offer backward-compatible, Plug-and-Play connectivity with all USB devices, including USB 1.1 (or low- and full-speed) devices, as well as with USB 2.0 (or high-speed) devices. This includes such peripherals as scanners, printers, mass-storage devices, and high-resolution cameras.

The Hub is self-powered if you use the supplied AC adaptor, which allows the cascading of devices with additional hubs, so that up to 127 USB devices may be connected to a single port.

The Hub features neat multicolor LEDs that indicate the operating speed of each connected USB device and the speed of the link to the host computer. More on this feature in a minute.

The TetraHub offers several important advantages over traditional USB 2.0 hubs. Most important is its implementation of the new "Quad TT" architecture. Simply stated, when connected to a USB 2.0 host controller, each of the TetraHub's four downstream ports deliver a full 12Mbps of USB bandwidth for low- and full-speed devices while still providing total support for high-speed devices. This is especially important when connecting multiple, bandwidth-intensive, full-speed devices such as USB webcams, speakers, scanners, and external storage devices.

BACKGROUND

The USB 2.0 specification includes three separate modes of data transmission. These are defined as low-speed (1.5Mbps), full-speed (12Mbps), and high-speed (480Mbps).

The Belkin TetraHub appears to be the only USB hub on the market today that provides a visual indication of a connected device's speed. This is accomplished using Belkin proprietary speed indication circuitry. Each downstream port on the Hub has a corresponding LED that changes color according to the speed of the connected device.

Connection Speed - LED color
Low - Green
Full - Red
High - Amber

In addition, the upstream port has a corresponding LED that indicates the speed of the computer's USB host controller.

Host Controller Speed - LED color
Full - Red
High - Amber


IMHO this is an unusual USB hub that is worth every penny Belkin gets. I just wish they had built this technology into the 7-port hub that features two ports on top for my flash drive.

I do not work in the computer industry or for Belkin. As I look at my desk, I notice I have a few other products from Belkin that have been very ssatisfactory over the last few years. I hope this Tetra USB HUB continues that experience over time.


Vic

Rating:
Summary: Work Great!
Review: The hub works as advertised and the price was right. Reminder, you don't need the external power supply if you don't have devices such as external disk drives connected. PDA's, printers, scanners, etc. will work just fine without the external power supply.

Rating:
Summary: Poor design
Review: This hub has several rotten design features. First, it is extremely lightweight, and the weight of its own cord makes it tip on its back. Thus,you have to set something at least as heavy as a coffee mug on top of it. The USB ports in the back are in two pairs. Unfortunately, the ports in each pair are so close together that unless you have a super-flat USB plug, you cannot plug in two USB devices in a set, effectively making your four port hub a two port hub.

It works okay, I really don't find a difference in speed from a cheaper port I had, and I don't care about the lights. I usually really like Belkin products, but this one is trying to fake us out with bells and whistles (or in this case, ports and lights).