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Hi all,

First thanks for all the help with the questions I've had. Got my Mac Mini and am getting it setup, and I have a question about a USB hub.

I need a few extra ports for my "slow speed" devices - keyboard, MidiExpress XT and backup hard drive.

For these devices, would it matter if i got a USB A hub or a USB C hub. Is USB 3.0 fast enough, or should I look for a USB 3.1 Gen 2 hub?

Thanks.

None of those devices benefit from a USB-C hub. Most USB-C hubs will include C and 3 ports if looking towards the future.

No hub will pass bus power over 2.4V—often less—so, if that’s a requirement, get a hub with an external power supply, usually a wall wort. I notice that my CD/DVD drive is fine with the power from my non-powered hub. If syncing iOS devices, you want a hub that supplies 5V (iPhone) or 12V (iPad).

For the slower USB items on my 2018 Mini, I got a 10 port Certified Data USB 3 powered hub at Amazon cheap. It is plugged into one of the two USB 3 ports on the Mini, and has dongles, keyboards, older USB drives, a MIDI controller -- a total of 8 things. I anticipated having to buy a more sophisticated docking device connecting to TB 3, but this hub has been trouble free from the start.

When you pick one, make sure it specifically says the power goes to all the ports so you don't have worry about which to use for what, that it has its own power supply, and that it is downward compatible with USB 2 and USB 1.1

Hubba hubba!

I am slowly gathering all the external peripherals I will need for my 2018 Mac Mini purchase, one of the things giving me a headache is a USB 3 hub.

I need at least 7 ports for dongles, MIDI keys, controllers etc, so I was thinking of a 10 port but every time I narrow the makes down, someone I know has had a bad experience. In the past with things like hubs I always went with known names, D-Link, Belkin etc but none of these seem to make them anymore. So I was thinking, Startech, Anker, Orico.

I'm in the UK so lots of makes you get in the US are not available here. (Certified Data is one)

I may also get a USB C 4 port hub or dock as well (can't find any USB C USB 3 hubs with more than 4 ports as I have one USB C port spare, the other 3 will be used and I want to leave one USB 3 port to plug my Helix directly.

Any suggestions welcome.

stevenew wrote:I'm in the UK so lots of makes you get in the US are not available here. (Certified Data is one)

That's a PITA. I've have a 10 port Certified Data power USB3 hub on my Mac Mini since January and it has been trouble free. Perhaps they sell in the UK under a different name? There are some on Amazon UK that look suspiciously like mine.

bayswater wrote:

stevenew wrote:I'm in the UK so lots of makes you get in the US are not available here. (Certified Data is one)

That's a PITA. I've have a 10 port Certified Data power USB3 hub on my Mac Mini since January and it has been trouble free. Perhaps they sell in the UK under a different name? There are some on Amazon UK that look suspiciously like mine.

I couldn't find Certified Data even on the US Amazon site, is the hub this one: https://www.londondrugs.com/certified-d ... 45357.html

I wondered if they are under a different name here.

stevenew wrote:

bayswater wrote:

stevenew wrote:I'm in the UK so lots of makes you get in the US are not available here. (Certified Data is one)

That's a PITA. I've have a 10 port Certified Data power USB3 hub on my Mac Mini since January and it has been trouble free. Perhaps they sell in the UK under a different name? There are some on Amazon UK that look suspiciously like mine.

I couldn't find Certified Data even on the US Amazon site, is the hub this one: https://www.londondrugs.com/certified-d ... 45357.html

I wondered if they are under a different name here.

Yes, they don't seem to be a consistent supplier on Amazon anywhere. I think they are a sub of London Drugs, or the local family business that runs it.

bayswater wrote:

stevenew wrote: Yes, they don't seem to be a consistent supplier on Amazon anywhere. I think they are a sub of London Drugs, or the local family business that runs it.

Looking through Amazon UK this seems to look the same as the Certified Data hub: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Powered-SOWTEC ... 127&sr=8-4

Appreciate your help on this, I never thought I would spend so much time looking for a USB 3 hub:-)

stevenew wrote:

bayswater wrote:

stevenew wrote: Yes, they don't seem to be a consistent supplier on Amazon anywhere. I think they are a sub of London Drugs, or the local family business that runs it.

Looking through Amazon UK this seems to look the same as the Certified Data hub: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Powered-SOWTEC ... 127&sr=8-4

Appreciate your help on this, I never thought I would spend so much time looking for a USB 3 hub:-)

I didn't see where it specifically says it works with USB2 and USB 1.1 devices. When I read up on these things, I remember someone saying they had one that didn't work with keyboards and other similar slower devices.

bayswater wrote: I didn't see where it specifically says it works with USB2 and USB 1.1 devices. When I read up on these things, I remember someone saying they had one that didn't work with keyboards and other similar slower devices.

I have heard that with other makes of hubs.

Another one that's been recommended to me by akasa, is USB 2 & 1.1 compliant, nice aluminium enclosure but is pretty pricey, however I have bought from the supplier before: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/10-port ... ging-ports

bayswater wrote: I didn't see where it specifically says it works with USB2 and USB 1.1 devices. When I read up on these things, I remember someone saying they had one that didn't work with keyboards and other similar slower devices.

Scroll down:

✔ Reverse compatible USB 2.0 (480Mbps) and USB 1.1 (12Mbps)

This looks to be the same OEM as Amazon Basics, one of the few USB hubs that hasn't give me grief over the years.

As long as you don't need 5V (iPhone) or 12V (iPad) or 18V (USB-C iPad Pro), this should get the job done.

One issue I've had with all USB hubs is that I've had to burnish the connections to the Mac now and then by unplugging and plugging back in. A bit of DeOxIt keeps that hassle down to once a year or so.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caig-Labs-Cont ... 7JE0H6VBM8