Hi. I'm looking to build myself a twin engine USB Throttle Quadrant out usb joysticks I have and would dismantle for the electronics. I would like use a 4 ports USB Hub for the connection of the mounted result.What kind of USB Hub should I look for. Powered - unpowered?For example, would this cheap powered one at Ebay be suitable for the job?http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-USB-2-0-4-ports-Ext...1QQcmdZViewItemOr should I seek for some other type more reliable? Is so, any suggestion?Thanks for any input,Hugo

An unpowered USB hub retrieves its power from the computer's USB port. There isn't usually enough left over for items that require power coming from the USB port such as joysticks, optical mice, keyboards or anything thing without a power cord.A powered HUB has the power cord going to the wall outlet in order to give the devices the power they need.So, if you plug in a scanner that uses a power cord, a printer that uses a power cord and a digital camera that uses batteries, you could get away with a unpowered hub. Using joysticks, corded mice (cordless ones use batteries and the RF unit sometimes works with unpowered hubs), or corded USB keyboards, you pretty much need a powered HUB.The Walmart I work at has 2 different HUBs...a $10 one thats unpowered and a powered one for $20.Aaron

Thanks for your reply Aaron.For this project I intend to use a board retrieved from a broken Sidewinder Precision Pro but the electronic is in good shape. It pulls 20 ma.For the second board, I would use one I would pull out from a working regular Sidewinder (2 axes and 1 throttle) that pulls 40 ma.To my knowledge, an unpowered hub can sustain about 500 ma, a lot more than the combine need for the above. Hence, I came to think I could make good with an unpowered USB2 hub.Actualy, a 2 slots hub, provided it is of the USB2 type, would be sufficient for this project. It should be a small as possible to be kept snuggly hidden inside the quadrant enclosure. It would be solely dedicated to these 2 controllers. An other advantage of an unpowered hub would be to limit to the bare minimum, 1, the connection cables coming out of the enclosure. The area is already quite populated! Also, the desk space being limited, it would be easier to move the quadrant away when I use the computor for other tasks and bring it back for the times I use FS, by simply plugging or unplugging a single connector to front end connector of the machine.So, for these practical considerations, I would prefer an unpowered hub. If it is not fit for the job, then I'll find a way to make good with a powered one :-)Thanks again for your inputs Aaron. During the weekend I will pay a visit to the local Walmart and see what they have to offer in this area.Regards, Hugo