Amazon Basics 7-Port USB Hub Tower

I have only had this produce for a couple of weeks and setting up the network (with my secretary as my only “assistant” (mostly vice versa) but so far I can say that it is exactly as described, performs as represented, and is good value for a product such as this, which is quite good given that some vendors are a “bit exuberant for my tastes” in their descriptions and I rarely have time to deal with returning low-cost products, and I suspect that is their “Plan B”). I will probably buy another one of these next time I can reach the free shipping base limit. I plan on putting together a set of items that I use concurrently, e.g. a document scanner, dedicated HDD>3TB so that I shall have a cross referenced compilation of all raw data and foundation documents for projects, and an “internal final copy” with conclusions should we need to represent the client in litigation, etc. I may also include our internal draft printer in this group to reduce costs as well as paperwork, as in addition to the need to have a hard copy at times, electronic (PDF) copies are at time released to in-house counsel or others and in doing so I can have a better record system as to where and when the each document containing opinions, intellectual history, etc. In this way, working with one or more of the commercial providers, we intend to put an external live code so that if a PDF remains out of our control, or is copied, it will simply (or that is the plan) “dissolve”. In this manner we also control who, and for how long a document is out of our hands, as well as protecting the intended recipients from unauthorized disclosures, multiple copies being out of either our control, or the clients, etc. Many of our computers are designed to work in conjunction with data acquisition programs and instruments, have a word processing program that can access certain of our instrumentation, etc.to be included within memorandums, and draft and final documentation. In any event, whatever it turns out to be needed, our partner’s secretaries, the partners if they dictate direction into their computers, and necessary personnel will be able to access files PRN and with only on one USB cable will be able to access the document and data files that they need in either our secure dictation station in the laboratory, or in our conference room with the need for only one USB connection. If this passes our preliminary implementation station, there will be a standardized set-up of these small or medium port hubs without wondering what they are going to need, etc. Since we use a number of different types, brands, etc. of computers that are purpose-specific, docking stations are not the best solution as I hate to have to buy a number of Toughbooks at $4k+ when we only need to at each office at any one time and there are other really good laptops available for 25%-50% of that cost, are lighter and more portable. I think that any product that can properly perform the functions for which it was acquired, is a decent value for what we get, and the fact that for the most part history has shown me that Amazon is a good company to work with if necessary, as long as the customer has a valid issue, which makes them a preferred vendor, is worth 4-stars. Unless it has “hung the moon” 5-stars is really not appropriate, after all, a company buys products to meets its needs, not just to find out how many other things that it could do incidentally, and 3-stars is a product that has not been grossly “oversold”, just is not the best that something could be, not bad, just not all that I wanted, and we don’t do 2-stars any more (if we ever did) as any product that isn’t worth the time to write a “3-star” rating for deserves nothing more than a one. I don’t usually spend this much time on any one product, I have always wished that the review that I read had some sort of scaling theory of the author so that any reader can determine for himself what that 3, or 4. or even 1-star rating means in their own world, and understand what the author uses to evaluate, quantify and report. Many of my 4-star ratings might have been 5-star ratings, and the reader(s) can figure out for themselves what the other ratings mean.

ALWAYS get a USB splitter with a power cord. It makes it much better on your computer. The computer will have a hard time powering multi USB with one port, the splitter with a power cord will power the multi ports for you and cause much less stress on your computer.
BTW, this works very well, I have had no problem with it at all.

This is a review of the AmazonBasics 7port USB 3.0 HUB with external adapter, I have put it through the paces and come out really quite impressed with this unit although it does have one minor flaw that I chalk up to user error more than a poor product. I upgraded my motherboard and finally have some USB 3.0 ports on it so it seemed a waste to downport it with an old powered 4 port USB 2.0 HUB when I could get a 3.0 powered HUB and upgrade in speed. Plus USB 3.0 is back compatible with USB 2.0 and I don’t believe I have any USB 1.0 devices anymore. I bought this one instead of the 10 port because I didn’t want a bigger HUB with more ports that I wasn’t going to use. Honestly who has more than 7 USB devices attached at once on a daily basis and can’t just simply unplug one to make room for another?

Pros
– The reports of poorly shaped pins can be forgotton, or at least discounted on the specific model HUB I bought. I’ve looked over each port several times and the pins don’t appear to be misshapen at all. BUT then again I could be editing this review months from now with an update that the pins bent and are now shorting out, although that would likely be due more to user error than product defectiveness.

-This HUB has its own power supply which means that it can provide fast charging to things like Cell Phones and some other USB devices when they are attached to the two Fast Charge ports on the side of the port. These two ports are isolated and have a little lightning bolt above them and labeled “Fast” so that you know they are the fast charge ports.

-The charge rate for my Samsung S4 Active is fast enough, as fast as plugging it into the wall outlet all by itself which is an improvement over plugging it into a standard USB port on a computer. Charging like that takes forever and barely keeps the phone ON much less charging.

-It has a single blue LED bar on it that lets you know it is working, no light over every single port which I appreciate the minimalism here. Treating me like an adult I KNOW when I have something plugged into a port I don’t need a status LED over every one of them!

-I haven’t messed with USB 3.0 until my motherboard upgrade but it will blow you away. I transferred 75GB of data from an external HDD over this hub to my computers HDD in 15 mins. That is a rough transfer rate of 100mb/sec. THAT blew me away.

Cons
-The Power Supply Unit for the HUB is nearly as big as the hub itself. Yes they give you plenty of cable length to hide it under a desk or wherever but it is something you might want to realize if you are going for a minimalist desk setup. The PSU is actually thicker than the HUB itself (See my Pictures)

-I had ONE issue getting my phone to be recognized as an external device. One of my USB cables is apparently not compatible with this HUB. But I am chalking this up to the fact that the cable itself is cheap. It would charge but my computer would not see it as a device nor recognize it as even being plugged into the computer at all. I switched the cable and the issue immediately resolved.

-Orientation with my model can be a bit of a challenge because it is shaped like a wedge with all the ports on the wide end of the wedge. So you basically have a decision to make. Do you want a cleaner look with the fat end of the wedge facing away from you and lose access to the rear ports OR do you want to face the fat end of the wedge toward you and be annoyed that the words amazonbasics are upside down every time you look at it. The choice is yours! I decided to face the fat part of the wedge toward me.

Summary
Really this port is great and is giving me all the functionality I need. I decided NOT to deduct a star for the slight orientation annoyance posed by this product only because it really only annoys me from time to time. My unit appears not to have any defects and all the ports function flawlessly as designed. And for the price there really isn’t anything comparable to it.

It’s exactly as described and surprisingly smaller than I expected – which is a good thing. The price was right and it functions perfectly.

This is a fine USB hub. I’ve had no problems with it whatsoever. I drilled a hole in the base and screwed it to a shelf.

I bought a faulty pc that didn’t have fully functioning USB ports so I bought this to supplement and it works wonderfully. Not to mention it helps with cable management because I can have it closer to my cables so they’re not all over