Customer Reviews

CyberPower Mobile Battery Powered 4-Port USB Hub (CP-H420MP)

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

 

 

The reason I bought this product is so that I could power up USB devices and the hub with the included batteries. Unfortunately, the hub will not power any devices I tried nor operate as a hub without drawing power from a laptop or PC. The manual states that the red LED will extinguish when the batteries have discharged. However, even when I removed the batteries, the red LED remained on. Basically, there does not seem to be any way to determine if the batteries are doing anything. I am still looking for a true battery powered hub.

I don't recommend this unit for the following reasons:
1) The precision of the case is quite poor. I was almost unable to open the battery cover. I finally used my Swiss Knife to modify the battery cover to resolve the problem.
2) The battery indicator is only passive (switch on/off indicator only) and cannot tell you if the batteries are in use or not. Even without the batteries, the indicator can be still on. I cannot confidently say that this device does not draw power from my vulnerable VAIO UX280.
3) When using the Sennheiser USB adaptor on this device, the audio quality was significantly degraded. I assume that this device cannot keep data flow fast enough.

First off, I have to admit that I actually like this product a lot - it does work, and it is very convenient to own and use. However, there is no doubt some serious problems that need to be cleared up. This is NOT a portable "stand-a-lone" battery powered USB Hub.

It is a USB Hub with rechargeable batteries that you may "switch on" if your device draws too much current from the hub to operate properly. It will NOT re-charge or power your iPod independently without being plugged into your computer's USB port. That would be "way cool," but it is NOT happening with this product. Some of the confusion is on the part of the manufacturer. Unlabeled switches are NOT helpful and the instructions included could be more clear. To clarify:

If the hub is plugged into the computer there should be a blue indicator lit. In regards to the tiny switch on the side which controls when the batteries are in use, up is ON, and down is OFF in relationship to the unit. If the labels read right side up (front or back) then when the switch is up it is ON and the batteries will NOT recharge as they are being used to supply current to the hub.

If the switch is up, (ON) the red light is lit and the red light means the batteries are in use and are NOT charging. Until you switch the batteries OFF they will not re-charge. (If you remove the batteries the red light stays lit without the batteries because the charging voltage is still at the battery terminals and at the light. I believe this is a design flaw, but maybe it was intentional as a reminder that the batteries are not recharging. Note "First Time Use" instructions for charging the batteries.

Although the instructions are poor with a lack of proper labeling on the unit, the product itself is actually innovative, and a good addition to a notebook computer bag.

For the product manual see: http://www.cyberpower-eu.com/support/download/manual/CP_h420mp_manual.pdf.

As another reviewer reported, this hub does what it's supposed to do. It's *not* made to charge or power devices per se. It is meant to provide extra power to USB devices that would otherwise need an external power supply. Devices such as external cd/dvd writers, external hard drives, etc... often require addtional power. Usually that comes in the form of a y-adapter, taking up two USB slots (one for data, the other dedicated to power) or an external power supply. The purpose of this USB hub is to provide additional power to the device, on the road, so you don't have to (or probably can't) plug in the external device's AC adapter. The batteries, once charged, can provide additional power to a USB device for 1-2 hours, depending on draw and use. An occasional read/write from an external hard drive is a considerably different load than watching a movie, playing from an external DVD drive. And with the rise of netbooks, many netbooks rely on external drives so the situation is not all that uncommon.

Now, the build quality does seem somewhat cheap. I, like others, had difficulty putting the battery cover back on after inserting the batteries into the battery compartment. I'm using it on Vista, and Vista reports the hub and anything plugged into it as an unknown USB device. But the devices show up and work as they should, so have no idea what's causing the error. A quick search of the manufacturer's website doesn't list the product at all, and it appears everything about the product has been removed. The pages exist in Google Cache, not on the website itself. So don't expect a lot, if any, support.

In sum, it's an average product because of build quality and the possible lack of support from the company, assuming the hub is a discontinued product (note: it's not even listed in the discontinued products page for the manufacturer). But it does what it is supposed to do, as long as you understand what it is meant to do.

Looking from Europe for a battery driven active USB Hub for portable pcs I found only this product (seems they closed their European distribution so I ordered directly from US).

It is a four port USB2 hub with rechargeable batteries and an additional switch: it is possible to charge the batteries if connected to a USB pc port or - a red light is visible - to support the own four USB ports with energy from the batteries.

It works - need I say more? I purchased four hubs and I have problems not to give them away to friends who realize what a practical products it is. They must order it themselves. Strictly recommended !!!

This unit does what it purports to do. It provides a 4 USB port hub with some ability to power outside devices via its on-board battery pack. Quibbles: my m-audio Oxygen-49 keyboard draws too much power for the built in hub in the iMac Keyboard, and though it can be powered by the CP-H420MP, it draws down the batteries quickly, within an hour or two. I ended up attaching an AC adapter to the keyboard. There is an unlabelled switch on the CP-H420MP for powered or unpowered operation. What would it take for them to put a label on the switch? The unit comes with a card that you can use to buy an inexpensive AC adapter for this USB hub. I threw it away when I opened the package. I shouldn't have. None of my generic AC adapters work with it.

Really, it was ok if your usb stuff did not need power.
Adding an extra keyboard or mouse is ok, but you need the battery power to run your other things.
I also ended up giving it to goodwill.

This item has never worked even with pre-charged batteries installed.
Amazon wanted more in return shipping than it cost; it is now only a hub and I use the batteries in other devices. Would have given it zero stars but Amazon wouldn't let me.

Imagine you have your USB device plugged into this thing for extra power and you need a bit of extra power for those surround sound USB headphones. Well the idea of the batteries charged up to help with the device sounds good, but it's really silly. Since a USB power cord can't power up the headphones well enough then how you you expect the battery to help do it when it will just drain in like 1 hours time of extra useage. The battery can't recharge while it's be overwhelmed and drained of the extra power the USB can't put out enough power as it is for the headphones alone let alone how is it going to recharge these while it's still in use also.

The batteries in mine where over heating to the point I was affraid to use it anymore, Cyberpower sent me a 110v powered plug in stand alone hub as a replacement.

Everyone seems to have the same disspointment with this item. I too plugged my cell phone into it expecting to get a charge only to find nothing works without being plugged in to yet another USB. And yet, it does what it is supposed to do, and gives you added functionality that other 4 port hubs but at a lower price. I got mine for less than the cost of the 4 included rechargable batteries. That value coupled with the fact that the hub works fine should have it pulling multiple 5 star reviews. Too bad it won't charge a cell phone... 3 stars. BTW, I find no problem with the build quality. Just squeeze as you attempt to slide the battery door & it pops open from its very snug fit.