Belkin Network USB Hub
Manufacturer: Belkin Part number: F5L009
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Belkin Network USB Hub provides a simple way for multiple users to share USB devices wirelessly. It's a must for any multiuser household.
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CNET editors' review
Belkin Network USB Hub price range: $73.88 - $109.00
- Reviewed by: Felisa Yang
- Edited by: Matthew Elliott
- Reviewed on: 08/08/2007
- Released on: 06/07/2007
The good: Easy to set up and use; can wirelessly network up to five devices at once; generous support package.
The bad: Some software firewalls impede communication (but Belkin provides step-by-step workarounds); not all USB devices are supported; only Windows XP and Vista are supported so far.
The bottom line: The Belkin Network USB Hub provides a simple way for multiple users to share USB devices wirelessly. It's a must for any multiuser household.
In a household with multiple PCs and users, it can be a bit of a pain to share USB peripherals without losing track of who left what where. If your wireless router doesn't have a print/storage server built in, consider Belkin's Network USB Hub. This simple device combines a regular USB hub with a print/storage server and lets you network up to five USB devices through a router. So you can corral your peripherals--external hard drives and printers and the like--in one central area and access them wirelessly while roaming about your home. The Network USB Hub lives up to Belkin's claim of simplicity and ease-of-use; we think it's worth the $130 price tag.
We haven't seen a similar device cross our desks yet. To be sure, there was a recent flurry of wireless USB devices, but don't confuse the two technologies. The wireless USB hubs establish a direct point-to-point contact between the hub and the adapter that's plugged into your PC. This technology reaches up to 30 feet and requires a line of sight. Belkin's Network USB hub connects your PC to USB devices over a Wi-Fi network, but tricks the PC into thinking it's making a direct USB connection to those devices. And as it works over your wireless network, you can use it from wherever you can maintain the wireless signal.
The Belkin Network USB Hub's design is the essence of simplicity. The all-black hub is 6.5 inches square and stands one-quarter of an inch tall; it looks like a short, black version of Apple's AirPort Extreme Base Station. (The Extreme Base Station does offer one USB port for a printer or hard drive, to be fair. But just one.) On the back edge you'll find a single Ethernet port, three USB ports, a power port, and a reset button. On the front edge reside two additional USB ports. And that's the entire product. It ships with a power cable and an Ethernet cable.
Setting up the Network USB Hub was also simple: connect the hub's Ethernet port to a WAN port on your wireless router and power it up. If you've enabled DHCP on your router, you won't have to manually set up the hub, but if you haven't, you'll need to enter information such as the hub's Ethernet code (from the hub's underside). Then install the Control Center software that comes on a CD on each PC that will be accessing the hub (you won't be able to use the hub if you don't install the software). We should note that currently the Hub only works with Windows XP and Vista PCs; Mac users will have to wait until September.
The Control Center shows you all the hubs on your network and the devices that are attached to each hub. You'll be able to see whether a certain device is connected to the PC you're using, as well as information such as the type of device, whether you've set it up to autoconnect, and the device's status. Devices connected to the hub can only be used by one user (i.e., PC) at a time. If you want to connect to a device that's in use, you can send a request to the current user, who can accept or deny your request. You can also configure the hub so that all connections are automatically established when you start up the Control Center, though again, you won't be able to make a connection to a device that's in use by someone else. We connected a flash thumbdrive, a hard drive, and an inkjet printer to our test hub and were able to use all three devices without problems. We played music off the hard drive, transferred files between our laptop and the flash drive, and printed several documents--all wirelessly and from the living room, while the devices all sat next to our hub, installed in the back bedroom.
One issue we ran into while trying to connect to installed USB devices was that software firewalls can get in the way. Belkin's help center acknowledges this issue and provides step-by-step configurations for several third-party firewalls that will allow the connections to be made. In our case, Belkin provided instructions for the 2007 version of PC-cillin, but not for the 2006 version we're using (the interface has changed). Still, we were able to use the 2007 directions as a general guideline to correctly configure a firewall profile that allowed for the connections.
In the included literature, Belkin warns that certain types of USB devices may not be compatible, including TV tuners and Webcams. If you've connected such a device, a warning will show up in the control center. The Network USB Hub can support up to 16 connections at once, but be aware that a single device does not always equal a single connection. Multifunction printers, for example, often require up to four connections (one for each function).
Belkin backs the Network USB Hub with a three-year warranty. Toll-free phone support is provided 24-7, or you can fill out a Web form at Belkin's site for e-mail support. Belkin's site also includes documentation, downloadable drivers, and FAQs.
User reviews
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Decent product but not compatible with everything.
by johnny.dee on August 29, 2007
Pros: Pretty easy setup. Works well, when it works.
Cons: No workaround for incompatible products.
Summary: This unit works fine with my Canon MP600 multifunction. Finally got my work laptop and home laptop to use the same printer. However, I have a Seagate USB external hard ...
Summary: This unit works fine with my Canon MP600 multifunction. Finally got my work laptop and home laptop to use the same printer. However, I have a Seagate USB external hard drive that will show up in the control program and on the computer but still can't access it. Tech support's only answer was that it is incompatible and there is no "compatibility list" available to know that. Very disappointing.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great product - Easy to use
by Baer0 on August 1, 2007
Pros: Easy setup to router and USB devices
Cons: Haven't found any yet.
Summary: Easiest setup of any device I have used. One step below "plug and play" because you have to use the install disk. Easily found my printer/scanner (HP 4180) and ...
Summary: Easiest setup of any device I have used. One step below "plug and play" because you have to use the install disk. Easily found my printer/scanner (HP 4180) and my external hard drive. The automatic connect disconnect feature for the printer is fast and works great. If the printer is in use by another user it automatically connects you for your print job when they are done. I have 3 computers, one wireless, on my network and all function great through this hub. I highly recommend this unit.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Inconsistent- maddening
by A_Foolish_Mortal on February 4, 2008
Pros: It looks pretty.
Cons: Everything else.
Summary: Set up went smoothly. After plugging in a scanner, printer, and 2 hard drives, I was happy to see that they all showed up, and tests showed that they were ...
Summary: Set up went smoothly. After plugging in a scanner, printer, and 2 hard drives, I was happy to see that they all showed up, and tests showed that they were successfully installed. Scanning, printing, and accessing the drives went smoothly. Then, I turned off the computer and went to bed.
It's never been the same since. One hard drive shows up in the drive list under "My computer" in XP, the other does not, even though it does show up in the Belkin control center. No program can find the printer, even though it shows up in the control center as well. No amount of rebooting, or resetting the wireless router, the Belkin device, computer, peripherals, etc., works.
Working with my second computer was worse. It was a brand new computer with a clean XP install. I figured that I would at least try to make sure that it wasn't the first XP system that was the problem. It was not. The second system became unstable to the point of having to power-cycle it when it froze.
I updated the firmware and downloaded the latest drivers from Belkin, to see if that was the issue. The same issues were evident, and in the case of the first system, worse. I'm now taking an old laptop and using it as a print/storage server, as I intended in the beginning, before finding this gem.
I will still buy products manufactured by Belkin, as this is the only lemon that I have stumbled upon after many years of buying their innovative products, but this one's going back to where I purchased it.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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SXUPTP issues
by rogercruse on December 8, 2007
Pros: Works OK if you can install the driver
Cons: Give up if you can't!
Summary: I installed the SXUPTP driver required to use this device without issue on my desktop machine in no time at all.
However, my laptop machine wasn't so easy and ...Summary: I installed the SXUPTP driver required to use this device without issue on my desktop machine in no time at all.
However, my laptop machine wasn't so easy and I hit a "chicken & egg" issue with the driver installation failing with the error "SXUPTP Driver has not been installed, please reinstall the application"
OK. So how do I un-install the driver? The simple "go to add / remove applications" instruction doesn't really help so SXUPTP isn't listed.
SXUPTP must be used by an existing application but there's no help on the BELKIN website or response from there support function.
I've purchased many Belkin products over the years but I'm very disappointed in this one.
Roger...2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Glorified Switch
by chnelson04 on August 6, 2008
Pros: multiple usb devices connected via network
Cons: Works with only one pc at a time
Summary: Ease of set-up really depends on the devices you are connecting. Both printers I tried required re-installation of the print drivers even though the printers had been previously installed. For ...
Summary: Ease of set-up really depends on the devices you are connecting. Both printers I tried required re-installation of the print drivers even though the printers had been previously installed. For one, this happened every time the device was connected. The device also requires disconnected from the PC that previously established a connection. Since you cannot do this automatically, if someone forgets to disconnect, you have to walk to the machine to disconnect prior to connecting the new machine. No better than an A/B switch which requires no software installation and overhead. For printing, a networked print server is a much better option at a fraction of the price.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not ready for prime time?
by grendl2000 on December 17, 2007
Pros: Easy to set up; nice design; excellent concept
Cons: Doesn't really work.
Summary: What everyone says about this product is true: It's very easy to set up and get running. In theory it should be great.
The practice is a different matter. ...Summary: What everyone says about this product is true: It's very easy to set up and get running. In theory it should be great.
The practice is a different matter. It works fine - until you try using your computer for anything other than looking at the USB peripherals on your network. That's where the troubles begin.
The more work you try to do, the more often the devices start randomly disconnecting themselves. Microsoft Office, in particular, gives it fits.
The printer sharing is fine - if you don't mind waiting several minutes to print a page and dealing with endless "printer not ready" pop-ups.
I'm sure that Belkin will, over time, work out the kinks in this. I have purchased other Belkin products and been happy with them.
But I would wait a couple of years before investing in this.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Finally, networked scanning!
by djrobx on October 10, 2007
Pros: Very well done software, happy with product
Cons: Misleading packaging, slow performance on wired network
Summary: First and foremost, I have a big gripe with the packaging on this device. It says "Share printers, access media - WIRELESSLY". There is absolutely NOTHING wireless about this. It ...
Summary: First and foremost, I have a big gripe with the packaging on this device. It says "Share printers, access media - WIRELESSLY". There is absolutely NOTHING wireless about this. It is a wired network device. The package continues to footnote that a wireless router is not included, but that's expected; WHO said I want my USB hub where my router is?! Belkin should include a radio or at very least offer the ability to plug in an inexpensive USB wifi adapter.
That out of the way, I moved on and set it up on my wired network. The software installed easily enough and one of the two printers I connected to it worked right off the bat, effortlessly. I was particularly impressed with the software's sharing features.
So I went to try to scan with my PSC 950, and no dice. My PSC950 is aging a bit and the scanner isn't too great so I was thinking I'd just replace it if it turned out to be incompatible. I downloaded the latest firmware and it didn't change anything. The "update" button showed I was up to date. Then I decided to try it on another computer. I went to the web to download the software, and noticed a newer version. Upon installing the 1.3 software from the web, my PSC 950 began to work flawlessly. Hooray!
For kicks I tried hooking up a Western Digital external hard disk. It worked just fine, but a throughput test revealed the Belkin's big weakness - poor performance. The hard drive could not break around 3.3MB/sec. 25mbps will do just fine for my needs but those looking at this as a way to remotely connect backup hard disks should probably look elsewhere. And yes, that's 25mbps on a 100mbps wired network. Pity because it's so great in every other respect.
Idea for people complaining about the lack of "smarts" when it comes to sharing printers and hard disks. This IS a networked usb hub, not a "print server", and not a NAS file server. Designate some always-on PC to "Share" the devices virtually connected through the Belkin if you want traditional, more intelligent queuing or simultaneous file access. Frankly what the included Belkin software allows is above what I would expect from such a device.
While it sounds like I'm rattling off a lot of negatives, the positive is that it *really works* for what I want it to do. I tried a Wireless USB adapter from IOGear prior to this and it was a total disaster. I'm impressed. With any luck Belkin can tweak the firmware and get more performance out of the hardware. Whatever the case I finally have a satisfactory solution to my multifunction printer quagmire that's plagued me for years.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent as a Print Server - Simple and Elegant Solution
by bhamy on July 7, 2007
Pros: Super easy to set up, works like a champ
Cons: None I've found, does what it says it will do
Summary: After wrestling with an actual Print Server from another company for 6 or 7 hours, only to find out my printer isn't compatible, I was desperate to avoid a ...
Summary: After wrestling with an actual Print Server from another company for 6 or 7 hours, only to find out my printer isn't compatible, I was desperate to avoid a repeat. Lots of research led me to question most of the other print server choices and their compatibility with my Samsung ML-1450 Laser Printer.
The Belkin Network USB Hub box said "Industry's 1st reliable print server". The Best Buy computer guy said that it was so new he hadn't heard any feedback about it. I decided to take the plunge and I'm so happy I did. It's a little more expensive than other print servers, but what's a Saturday of frustration worth to you?
The "secret" of this thing that separates it from the others is that you don't need to mess with a bunch of IP addresses. It comes with a small resident program that you install on each computer that convinces it that the printer is actually plugged in directly. As a matter of fact your XP will pop up with the Discovered New Printer message, even while wireless through the router.
All you do is plug the Hub into your wireless or wired router, then into your USB printer. You then install the Control Center (takes just a couple of seconds). When you run the program you can already see the printer there on the list. Since a printer can only be "Connected" to one computer at a time, you simply direct the computer, through the Control Center, to connect, print, then disconnect when finished. The last step is to go to your printer icon through the Control Panel and through Properties, and click on the "Virtual USB Printer Port" in the Ports section. That's it! It was so easy. The Control Center automatically told the XP firewall that it needed access. There are also very detailed, easy to follow instructions (pictures) on how to set other common firewalls made by the big companies.
It's also great that since it connects directly through my existing wireless DSL router, I don't even have to program it for WEP or WPA-PSK codes.
I don't think you'll regret getting this Print Server, I mean Hub. I guess you can connect lots of other things through it...external hard drive, for instance. It's so easy to set up, I think I could could talk my mom through it over the phone. Worst comes to worst, it'll take only a fraction of the time to find out it doesn't work for you than other brands! How's that for an endorsement!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Dissapointing and misleading
by jspoer on November 29, 2007
Pros: It makes your usb devices accessable over wifi connections which could be benifical to laptop users and avoid having to plug devices in all the time. A USB server option.
Cons: It only allows one user to connect to a device at a time be it a printer or storage device. It can be slow on data transfer as well.
Summary: Ok, so I bought this as a solution for a printer and storage server but unknown to me was the limitation that it only allows one user to connect to ...
Summary: Ok, so I bought this as a solution for a printer and storage server but unknown to me was the limitation that it only allows one user to connect to a device at a time. In other words, two computers couldn't use an externally attached USB drive at the same time. I thought this would be more like a NAS server/print server and more. What it really does is make your USB ports available over the network. I can see its potential but the box was misleading. It could be useful for laptop users so they don't need to plug devices in all the time but that's not why I bought the product. It will be returned to the store tomorrow.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works for me on different levels
by samljohnson on September 11, 2009
Pros: Easy to Setup
Cons: 1. Data Transfer slow if your trying to burn movies directly to a drive through the hub
2. Copying movies from one shared drive to another not turtle slow but slow.
3. Security wished drives could have password protection to access.Summary: First I have 2 Belkin USB HUBs in my home connected to my Netgear Gigabit Router. One hub is used as a Multimedia Network. Currently I have over 700 full ...
Summary: First I have 2 Belkin USB HUBs in my home connected to my Netgear Gigabit Router. One hub is used as a Multimedia Network. Currently I have over 700 full feature length movies on 5 External HDD connected to the hub. I have a large household with 4 desktops and 2 laptops on my Network. 2 Running Vista 4 Running Windows XP professional. Anyone in the house can watch movies from any drive when accessed with no problem never had a disconnect unless power went out.
The second hub has a DVD RW and 2 Printers (1) HP Laser Jet 2600n and the othe a brother MFC 440CN I have not tried Scanning and Faxing but the printer works fine.
If someone in the house DVD Rom drive either didnt work or needed a second drive to copy used the DVD RW.
Bottom line it worked for me had these hubs for over 8 months
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Belkin
- Part number: F5L009
- Description: Your home computers are networked wirelessly, but with all the digital photos, video and music your family has been collecting, they're all running out of hard drive space. And what's more, you and your kids each need access to a printer. With the Belkin Network USB Hub, you can give each computer on your network direct wireless access to up to 15 devices, including an external hard drive to store your family's digital media and a printer that everyone on your network can share. With this convenient, easy-to-install device, the days of purchasing separate printers and peripherals for each of your computers are over. The Belkin Network USB Hub allows you to give every computer connected to your network access to up to 15 USB devices. (The Hub itself will connect directly to five devices, but it also lets you "daisy chain" three additional USB hubs to it, so that you can connect a total of 15 USB devices to your network computers.) While the Hub is specifically designed for printers and mass-storage devices, it also works for most other USB devices, including most standard webcams, keyboards and mice, multifunction machines, scanners, and media readers. You can even dock an MP3 player and play music through your USB speakers wirelessly. If your device has a USB connection, chances are that everyone on your network can access it wirelessly. (Some high-speed devices, such as high-definition webcams and video docking stations, may not be compatible with the Network USB Hub.) Once the Hub is set up, you simply plug your USB devices into one of its five USB ports, and the Hub seamlessly installs software that makes USB printers and other devices appear to be connected to your network computers. The convenience of this direct USB-connection emulation requires that only one user be linked to each device at a time. So if your daughter is editing video on the external hard drive, the software lets you contact her to request that she disconnects from the drive so you can access it. With printers, the Hub automatically disconnects users after completing a print job, so that other users on your network can print. Even if you don't have an external hard drive or other peripherals you want your computers to access, the Belkin USB Hub is one of the best ways you can share a printer on your network. It not only effectively functions as the industry's first reliable print server, it's also one of the easiest to install. Set-up takes less than three minutes with the included CD. Simply insert the set-up disk, and in five easy steps you'll be ready to go. If you have the Windows firewall activated on your PC, the Hub will automatically detect it and ask you if you wish to allow it to work from behind the firewall. (Users of other firewalls must manually add the device driver to their list of allowed programs.) While the Belkin USB Hub works best with the Belkin N1 Wireless Router (a router is not included with the Hub), it will work seamlessly with any existing wireless router. The distance and quality of the connection of your computers to your USB devices will depend on the quality of your router and your Internet connection. And aside from having a wireless network and USB devices you want to connect to, the only requirement is that your computers are running Window XP or Vista. The Belkin USB Hub connects directly to your existing wireless router. The Hub does not have routing capabilities, and does not include a router. You must purchase the router separately.
General
- Device Type Device server
Networking
- Form factor External
- Ports Quantity 5
- Connectivity technology Wired
- Data link protocol USB, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
- Transport protocol TCP/IP
- Features Auto-sensing per device, Auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X)
- Networking standards IEEE 802.3
Processor Memory / Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Optical Storage None
- Storage Removable None
Communications
- Type None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Bays Total (Free) None
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) None
- Interfaces 5 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45
- Compatible Slots None
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Network cable
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Battery
- Type None
Software / System Requirements
- Software type Drivers & Utilities
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 3 years warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 3 years
Manufacturer info
- Belkin
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Belkin products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.belkin.com/
- Address:
501 West Walnut Street, Compton, CA 90220 - Phone: 1-800-223-5546
