USB hub powered by FireWire port?

  1. Does anyone make a powered 4-port USB hub that receives its power from the FireWire port? That would seem to be a way to make a very compact/portable powered hub for most Mac systems.

    --phil

  2. I don't believe I ever remember seeing such a thing. But there's probably a reason for that ;). Wouldn't making a powered 4-port USB hub work just as well if it received its power from the USB port?

  3. FireWire ports can provide _much_ more power than USB ports. That's why you see more bus-power FW hard disk enclosures than USB ones (2.5" and up. The 1.8" drives will run off of USB).

    Later,
    John

    johajohn@indianahoosiers.edu

    'indiana' is a 'nolnn' and 'hoosier' is a 'solkk'. Indiana doesn't solkk.

  4. No. That's why bus-powered USB hubs have limited utility. OTOH, I'd rather not have to carry around an AC adapter for an externally powered USB hub.

    It seems that a very compact hub could be made for macs since the FW port is in proximity to the USB port.

    --phil

  5. The Belkin Macmini combo FW/USB hub looks like it is probably just such a beast
    <http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_ Id=268&pcount=&Product_Id=203160&Section.Section_Path=%2FROOT%2FMacintosh %2FHubs%2F>

    Dave

  6. That's it. I currently have no use for the FW ports, but you never know.

    I just want to make sure I have sufficient USB ports for my pencil sharpener:
    http://uk.gizmodo.com/2005/10/10/worlds_worst_usb_peripheral.html

    Dave

    Thanks, Dave.

    --phil

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