Customer Reviews

Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Hub (F5U224)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This hub has worked very well with my USB 1.1 ports. I recently tried it on my USB 2.0 PCI card. Initially, Windows XP didn't want to recognize the hub. A few switched ports and reboots later, problem solved. It is now running on USB 2.0 just fine, as advertised. In retrospect, my decision to pay a little more for a higher-quality product was a good one.

Of course, since no product is perfect, here are a few negative aspects:

1) All the USB ports are in the back of the product; it would be more convenient to have them in front.

2) The ports are quite close together. If you're using normal USB cables, you shouldn't have a problem, but some users with wider devices such as a flash card reader or a USB flash drive may have to unplug a cable or two to get the room they need to plug their devices in.

3) The AC adapter is HUGE; make sure you have plenty of room on your wall outlet or power strip to plug that monster in.

Great looking unit, but didn't live very long. I've had some Belking USB1.1 hubs that did the same. Fine for a while then just upped and stopped working. One even sparked whenever you plugged its power supply in!

I encountered nothing but diffuclties trying to properly install this 4 port hub on 3 different machines, all with ver 2.0 USB ports (MS Win SE or ME). First call to Belkin, the tech decided the hub was defective and they shipped me a replacement pronto.

New hub, same problems, but the next tech ran me through some uninstall/install procedures and claimed the problem is that Windows is not installing the native (ver 1.x) USB drivers which is what is preventing the belkin 2.x high speed drivers from installing successfully. Off and on I would try and fail until I absent-mindedly connected the hub to the machine WITHOUT the

power supply connected to the hub and guess what! New hardware detected, installing (Windows) drivers (4 times, 1 for each port) plus a couple of root hubs etc. been working as expected ever since in Win ME :-))

They work for a month and poop out. go with another brand

Plugged it in, it worked for a week and then nothing. Electronic CPR doens't appear to be helping.

Went through two of these... first one failed immediately... second one worked fine for 1 hour and then died...

My recommendation would be to look at other brands.

Using Windows 2000. Bought product @ Circuit City. Removed from package, plugged in, hooked up to back of computer, inserted camera & MP3 USB cords. Everything worked fantastic and still does.

Add my story to those who report early failures of this unit. Mine lasted about four months.

Now, Belkin has a claimed "lifetime warranty" so I called, got a return number, sent it back. It took nearly two weeks to see a replacement -- and the company is about 20 miles from me. First, the Priority Mail tracking number indicated that the post office was unable to deliver it (what, there wasn't anybody home???) and left a note. It was picked up the next day. I called to make sure, guy said they would ship a replacement within 2 working days. 3 days later, nothing. Called, guy said it would have to come from Indiana warehouse, and he was taking care of that, priority overnight. Two days later, nothing. Called again, was told "it's going out today." Finally got it. And not from Indiana, either. They sent a later model that does basically the same thing -- their F5U234. We'll see. Looking at the Amazon reviews for that unit, it's not exactly making friends and influencing people either. If this one goes TU, I'm not buying any more Belkin stuff.