Hi,Sorry for posting this in the PMDG forum.. but i just feel that the PMDG forums are a family, and i feel more comfortable to post this here.I started setting up a new system on my desk.. ill try and describe it as simply as possible..I have a 2 USB cables running to 2 4 way HUBS... from each port on the hub i have a usb cable running to a switch, a simple on off switch connected to another USB cable running to various lights such as ones to shine on keyboard and one to my clipboard mount for charts and all the rest of it.. the swtiches work fine.. however the switch is positioned inbetween the hub and the light (cable wise) however when i switch one button off it turns off all aspects of the HUB and not just the one port..any solutions to fix my problem will be greatly appreciated..

It sounds like you may be over driving your USB bus. You can buy a USB PCI card for next to nothing.

i am running them through a laptop however.. is it possible to get a similar item that is external?And if possible not one that is sticking out of the laptop.. something that can be mounted away from the laptop is needed.. would save having 6 extra cables running to the laptop

If it also comes to it.. would it be possible to get on of these and run a cable from that with power on to the switches i have mounted to my desk and use it that way?

Sounds to me like a bad hub. If it works with everything on, it's not overdriven.I think a better question would be why are you using USB to power lights? I understand there are products out there to drive fans and lights and all kinds of other peripherals through the USB port, but those are for portability. They're meant for when you're on-the-go, sitting at an airport or the like with no plug-type power supply.Cut the Rube Goldberg and buy a surge protector for extra power slots and buy some lights and plug them in to the power strip. There's no need to take up a USB port to power a light.