USB 2.0 internal 4 port hub

USB hubs are usually external and often you want extra USB ports on the front of your computer locked into your computer so nobody will steal them. Here is a simple USB 2.0 hub with 4 ports that fits safely inside your computer.

Brand

The box is unbranded and has the model number UIH-524 on the side. The model number is listed at Neostar. Both the box and Neostar say the device includes a number of features including over current protection and support for Windows back to Windows 98 and Mac back to 8.6. There is no documentation or software inside the box.

For a 5.25" slot

Here is the hub straight out of the box fitted inside a 5.25" tray for use in a 5.25" slot. Many desktop and server computers have several 5.25" slots for DVD drives and you only need one or two. You can use one to add more USB ports.

For a 3.5" slot

The following picture zooms in on the hub after removal from the 5.25" tray. You can install the hub in a spare 3.5" slot. Most desktop computers have one or two and you do not need a floppy disk drive anymore, so a hub makes use of the slot.

Power

You could use the hub on the power from the USB cable but you would soon hit a problem with devices wanting full power. The hub accepts a floppy disk power connector for full power and has an adaptor cable for power from an IDE disk connector.

Indicator lights

There is a green indicator light for each port.

internal or external connection

Most motherboards have internal connectors for USB and this hub can use one. There is also a cable provided to go out through the back of your computer to connect to an external USB port if you do not have spare internal ports. There is a rear slot cover with a hole for the cable, making a rear external connection practical.

Price

AU$37 at the time of writing, an economical price considering you get all the adaptors and cables for almost every situation. Yes, you can get an external hub for slightly less but then you need an extra power outlet for the power brick and you have to lock it away every night because external devices wander off into the night.

I could tell you a story about one office where the longest lasting external USB hub was three nights and that is in a building with guards at the front door during the night. It was not strangers walking off with the hubs.

Recycling

The cardboard box can be recycled. There is a plastic insert that is not marked for recycling and should be replaced by cardboard. Some of the items are in plastic bags that should be replaced with recyclable materials. A lot of people will throw out the plastic 5.25" carrier plate because they only need the 3.5" size but the 5.25" plate is not marked for recycling. Neostar need to immediately change all those plastic components to recyclable materials.

Conclusion

Desktop computers often have no, one, or two USB ports on the front of the box and you can quickly require more. Adding an external hub creates a mess, requires a power brick, and, in some offices, will disappear overnight. An internal hub gives you extra ports locked into your computer.