Tag: USB port

When Is It Time To Buy A USB Hub?

ShopperPlusLeave a comment

Having only a few USB ports – if you’re lucky! – is awful when you’ve got way more devices to connect.

A USB hub is the best answer to the question of, “What devices should I plug in and what do I exclude?”

Why a USB hub is perfect is because it’s kind of like what happens when you buy a multi-outlet power strip to give you more electrical ports. A USB hub is that except with USB outlets/ports. Take a single port and essentially you can bump it to 3, 4, 7, 9, 12, and even more USB inputs, vastly expanding what’s possible.

How do you know it’s time when you need a USB hub for your laptop or computer setup – this is how.

You Have An Older Computer Or Small Laptop With One USB Port

Some older computers and laptops, as well as more economical smaller laptop models with limited space may only have one lonely USB port. In this day and age, that’s not acceptable to most people.

Buying something like a 7-port USB hub instantly blows up your setup to way more ports and accessibility.

You Have Slow-Charging Or Malfunctioning USB Ports

If you use a USB port again and again, eventually, it could start to malfunction. If this happens, assuming the rest of your computer is still working, buying a whole new model just doesn’t make sense.

If you have at least one working USB port left, you can use a fast-charging USB hub to give you more ports.

You Have More Than Two Devices To Charge

If you usually charge all your devices on your laptop, you may find your current selection of USB ports to not be enough.

There are lots of ways to resolve this, including with a USB 3.0 hub. USB 3.0 is incredibly fast and hubs are not that expensive. So long as each device has a dedicated USB cable, a USB 3.0 hub allows you to charge everything at the same time and fairly quickly.

You Have Multiple Hard Drives

External hard drives mean you have more terabytes and gigabytes of space to load up with media, data, and files.

When you’re working with large files – a la video – those terabytes can be eaten up quickly. If you’ve got anywhere from two or more external hard drives on the go regularly or you need everything accessible to you at all times, it’s time to buy a USB hub.

To shop USB hubs of all shapes and sizes, visit PrimeCables.ca today. With 5Gbps of speed, individual switches, plug-and-play, and near-universal compatibility, there is no USB hub better. Check it out!

What USB Ports Do I Have On My Device?

ShopperPlusLeave a comment

USB ports aren’t always clearly marked. On laptops, sometimes you may see an identifier somewhere but on smaller devices – such as smartphones – it can be hard knowing what USB cable is right.

What Kind of USB Ports Are There?

Several USB cable types exist. USB is the most common plug-and-play interface in modern technology, after all.

Though smartphones and computers often offer very standard USB ports, there are hundreds of devices that may display a different kind of port or require a different cable than what you typically employ. Here are the most popular USB ports and cable types used today.

– USB-A.
– USB-B.
– USB Type-C.
– Micro-USB.
– Mini-USB.
– USB 3.0.
– USB 2.0.

Please note, this also doesn’t factor in the various USB adapters that exist, such as USB-to-HDMI cables.

How to Know What USB Ports Are on A Smartphone

On a smartphone, the process is relatively simple.

Androids have used the USB-B connector on practically every device since 2008. USB-B was dominant for many years until the introduction of USB-C which is now the preferred cable of smartphones in the last couple of years.

USB-C cables look similar to USB-B although they tend to be slightly more oval-shaped and thicker.

When in doubt on what USB cable might be needed to match the port on your smartphone, searching the information online isn’t difficult based on your phone type. If you had a manual come with the phone, this should also indicate what kind of USB port is on the device.

How to Know What USB Ports Are on Your Computer

If it’s a computer, the process of finding out what USB cable you need is simple.

Open the ‘Device Manager’. Look for ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’ and click. This will show all USB ports installed on your computer.

If a USB port name shows as ‘Universal Host’, it’s USB 1.1.

If a USB port shows up as ‘Universal Host’ and ‘Enhanced Host’, it’s USB 2.0.

If it’s identified as ‘USB 3.0’, what you will need is then a USB 3.0 cable.

Can You Connect the Wrong USB Cable to Your Port?

If the cable fits, it’s the right USB cable for the port. A port is made for one specific cable type, refusing connection to any other.

Try to fit a different cable into the port than what is recommended and it will be so differently-sized that it’ll be either impossible to fit in because the cable connector is larger than the port or the cable connector will be too small and not connect.

PrimeCables.ca is your one-stop-shop for USB cables of all types. Once you know what USB port you’re working with, order high-quality long-lasting USB cables from the experts with fast, free shipping to anywhere in Canada on orders above $49.