USB Port replicator

[DanNeely]

I'm wondering if anyone sells an actual port replicator, vs a hub (eg 4 female ports on the device and 4 male plugs to connect to the back of the PC). I know monoprice sells Male A to Female A cables, but I'd rather have a single medium size cable instead of one extra thick 'cable' made by braiding/heat shrink tubing 4 separate cables together.

 

[obobski]

unless you make it yourself, no (and it'd be really easy to do this)

mostly because such a device would be worthless given how USB works

 

[DanNeely]

Ummm why? My interest is due to the distance between my case and monitors/chair. I want some ports on my desk and easy to reach, without the contention/bandwidth issues that come from stuffing several devices into a hub.

 

[defaultluser]

Nobody would actually sell a multi-cable extension like you want because you already have two servicable options for USB extension:

1. multiple independent extension cables
2. extension cable + hub.

If performance is really important to you regarding these devices, then may I suggest you go with eSATA instead? USB2 isn't exactly the pinnacle of performance, and it just sounds like you're trying to get blood from a stone. You could move your bandwidth-heavy devices to eSATA (while also seeing a performance improvement), and then keep a hub for the rest.

If eSATA is out of the question, why not compromise and use TWO hubs off two different controllers? This would double your throughput, without making a stack of ugly cables (just two).

 

[obobski]

Ummm why? My interest is due to the distance between my case and monitors/chair. I want some ports on my desk and easy to reach, without the contention/bandwidth issues that come from stuffing several devices into a hub.

Nobody would actually sell a multi-cable extension like you want because you already have two servicable options for USB extension:

1. multiple independent extension cables
2. extension cable + hub.

If performance is really important to you regarding these devices, then may I suggest you go with eSATA instead? USB2 isn't exactly the pinnacle of performance, and it just sounds like you're trying to get blood from a stone. You could move your bandwidth-heavy devices to eSATA (while also seeing a performance improvement), and then keep a hub for the rest.

If eSATA is out of the question, why not compromise and use TWO hubs off two different controllers? This would double your throughput, without making a stack of ugly cables (just two).

read defaultluser's post
as far as "ummm why", because thats just the way it is (again, as I and default have said), theres no point and unless you're hooking up something bandwidth hungry like an audio processor or hard-drive, it doesn't matter (if this is seriously just for your mouse or digital camera )