IOGear USB 2.0 Hub and Card Reader GUH284R

by Iogear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 3.4 x 5.9 inches ; 5.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007IQWM0
• Item model number: GUH284R
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Expand your computer's connectivity and functionality with the Iogear GUH284R 6-port USB 2.0 hub, which also integrates a multi-format memory card reader for ultimate flexibility. It reads all major media card formats, including: CompactFlash Type I/II, CompactFlash USB, CompactFlash Ultra, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Switch, Memory Stick PRO, Magic Gate Memory Stick, Magic Gate Memory Stick Duo, Micro Drives, Smart Media, SecureDigital and Multimedia Card.

The six USB 2.0 ports offer easy access and high data and digital image transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps; they're also backward compatible with USB 1.1. Plug-and-Play and Hot-Swap functionality means installation of devices requires no computer reboots, and no extra fuss. It's powered directly via the USB to your PC, but this unit includes an AC adapter as well. It's compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

What's in the Box
USB hub/memory card reader, AC adapter, USB cable, printed operating instructions

Product Description

The USB 2.0 Hub Card Reader bridges the gap between your computer and devices such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, portable MP3 players, as well as peripherals such as scanners, external hard drives and more. Combining six high-speed USB 2,0 ports with a 12-in-4 card reader, this elegant system delivers lightening-fast connectivity as well as file transfer capabilities. Just insert your memory card and transfer data at 480 Mbps.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice specs, but it doesn't live up to them, February 24, 2006

By 

John Pane (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IOGear USB 2.0 Hub and Card Reader GUH284R (Personal Computers)

I purchased two of these separately and neither of them lived up to IOGEAR's claims. I got about 5 Mbps from a Sandisk Extreme III CF card on two different Macs and a PC. This is only about 1% of the 480 Mbps memory card transfer rate advertised in IOGEAR's literature and on the back of the package, "Just insert your memory card and transfer data at 480 Mbps." Using the same memory card and computers, I achieved much much faster data transfer rates with a Sandisk reader (although still not 480 Mbps...this figure is unrealistic for flash memory).

Part of the problem is, the card reader establishes itself on the USB bus as a 12 Mbps device (USB 1.1 speeds), according to Apple System Profiler. I'm not sure why this occurs, because the GL819 card reader controller used in this device is designed to run at USB 2.0 rates. But this anomaly was apparent with both units I had, and the transfer rates I observed are consistent with this slower USB rate.

The hub itself registers as a USB 2.0 hub, and devices plugged into the USB ports do seem to run at their rated speed.

Another problem I had was the unit kept freezing up. I would disconnect it to take my Powerbook somewhere, and when I came back and plugged it in, none of the devices connected to the hub would work. I would have to disconnect the hub from the computer and remove its power cord temporarily in order to get it to come back.

Buyer beware.

John

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Working without a hitch for 4 months, January 31, 2006

By 

D. Brennan (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: IOGear USB 2.0 Hub and Card Reader GUH284R (Personal Computers)

I bought this device in order to avoid desktop clutter. I had the following devices on my desktop at home:
-Compact Flash adapter for my camera's memory cards
-SD adapter for my wife's camera
-Memory Stick adapter for my wife's mp3 player
-Two USB hubs, one 1.0 and one 2.0 (high speed)

This single device successfully replaced all of these devices. I currently have the following items connected to this device:
-A Dell all-in-one printer
-Two external USB2 hard drives which I use for media storage and backup
-A treo 650
-A webcam
-A Zen Vision media player

The data transfer speed when downloading from memory cards is excellent. In fact, the limiting factor in data transfer is probably the speed of my hard drive, not the reader. I disagree with a previous reviewer - the stand so far works fine.

I have also had no problems with accessing multiple devices at the same time. I have simultaneously printed, synched my treo and uploaded files to my Zen Vision.

My home system is a Dell running Windows XP, fully patched. I have NEVER had a technical difficulty with this product. The manual advises that you may have problems with other operating systems.

A friend of mine had great difficulty with any number of USB hubs when using Windows Me. Further, there are known issues with the original version of Windows XP and USB hubs. If you have problems with this or any other USB hub, please make sure that you have installed all of Microsoft's free service packs. To do this, open Internet Explorer and click on Tools --> Windows Update and follow the instructions. I only mention this because something like 70% of home users have no idea that free software updates are available from Microsoft to fix problems with their operating systems.

I purchased a second one of these adapters for my office. Again, I have not had a single technical difficulty. My office machine is an IBM T42 running XP, again fully patched.

As a side note, you really should not leave CF of SD cards in readers for an extended period of time. These devices look simple, but they are sensitive, high-tech, products. Leaving these cards in a reader for extended periods of time can lead to damage from micro power surges. In fact, the problem with corrupted files mentioned by a previous reviewer might in fact be the result of problems with the card caused by consistently leaving it in any reader.

If you try to copy a corrupted file from a memory card, then Windows will in fact abort the copy process. This is true not only of this device. If Windows is in the process of copying a corrupted file from your hard drive, it will abort the copy as well.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Buggy, April 2, 2005

By 

Mr. M. J. Christian "citizensmith" (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: IOGear USB 2.0 Hub and Card Reader GUH284R (Personal Computers)

It looks nice although the vertical stand is useless. Sounds good to. 6 USB2 ports and a card reader.

Unfortunately it is badly flawed. It'll pause and restart during file transfer using the card reader, corrupting files in the process. Additionally, if you leave a card in the reader your computer will every so often redetect it and pop up a window. Can get very annoying as it interupts whatever you are doing or wkaes your computer if suspended. Lastly, it has the same pause and restart problem with the USB ports. If you are trying to print through this hub you are in for a tough time. This thing cost me a lot in paper and ink before I went back to my previous hub.

I've used other hubs and readers on this computer with no trouble. This one though is going back to IOgear.