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powered USB hub for USB 1.1 (G3 Blue & White)

mraroid

Well-known member
Hello....
 
My Blue & White G3 has two USB 1.1 ports.  I need more USB ports.  I see powered hubs that are available, but most are USB 3.0.  I do not care about faster USB speeds, I just needs a few more USB ports.  If I use a small modern powered USB hub will the higher voltage of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 cause any issues when I plug the powered hub into my USB 1.1 port?
 
mraroid
 

Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
It will not cause any problems. I use a small Belkin-branded USB 2.0 hub with 7 ports on my B&W and QuickSilver.

As a note, the voltage shouldn't actually increase, USB 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0 should all have a standard voltage of  5V, however 3.1 Type C C with power delivery can do more, devices must negotiate for that.

USB 3.0 in particular added higher amperages. I don't know off hand if 2.0 offered any higher amperages than 1.1. A USB 2.0 powered hub would give at least up to 2.0 devices that are bus powered enough power for their needs. (In my experience, the 2.0 powered hub I use has enough power to run, say, a blu-ray writer, and two external portable hard disks, plus incidentals like a headset and keyboard/mouse.)

 

Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
One more data point: I bought a 4-port USB 2.0 hub from "Dynex" and am using it on an iMac G3/400 now and it's doing well. It has its own power adapter and it uses micro USB for uplink, so replacement or changeable cables for different needs (in particular if you wanted a longer uplink cable, if you were using a system on the floor or in a cabinet) are easy to get.

It works fine. I got it at Best Buy and I think I paid $20 for it. It has a blue LED which I don't love. I'll probably cover that with painter tape or electrical tape.

 

Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
That's correct. USB 2.0 cards that work with Macs will only product 1.1 speeds under OS 9.

I used one with my blue-and-white back in the day and just dealt with the inconsistency so I could have more ports without having to bother with a hub. Today, I spend more time in OS 9 on that era of machines, so I'm using hubs. instead.

 
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