Hi all. I'm looking forward to build myself a 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? If so, any suggestion?I'm using XP Pro-SP2.Thanks for any input,Hugo

If I were you, I wouldn't buy a no-name brand device off Ebay. Even a USB hub. And note that if you are in Canada (as the link would seem to imply) then I don't think that warrenty would apply to you. I've got myself a powered 7-port Targus hub, and it works pretty well. Might be a bit more then you need, but there are smaller ones that aren't too expensive. If you want to buy online, rather then in a retail store, you might check this site out:http://www.pricegrabber.caIf you are in Canada, then buying from a Canadian store might save some hassle (say customs) and shipping cost.The US version is:http://www.pricegrabber.comAs far as powered vs bus powered, frankly I'd go powered. A bus powered hub would have limited power to provide to the devices plugged into it. (Technically my hub can work both ways, but my Saitek X-45 draws 450mA by itself, so I use it powered.)"Let me help you out. You're cleared to taxi any way you can to any runway you see."

Hi Edrick.Thanks for the informative reply. Your mention about the Saitek power requirement brought me to look at my own needs (Hum! Some kind of hardware hacker that makes me :-roll) A Sidewinder Precision Pro that fell from my desk and broke its neck but the electronics are ok and a regular Sidewinder at 20 and 40 ma respectively (according to the face, well, bottom plates)! As far as I know, unpowered hubs supply up to 500ma per slot.I agree with you I should stick with a brand name. In this case though, I have to take into account the low power requirement of both sticks, the fact that for this project I actualy need only 2 USB2 slots and that the hub should be as a small size as possible. It will end up hidden in the quadrant enclosure and dedicated to this task. So, at first, I will try with an unpowered 2 slots hub with the provision to be able to exchange it for a powered one if it proves to be unreliable. Thanks a lot for your inputs.Hugo