How a USB Hub HDMI works, and what to consider when buying one?

If you have a computer, either laptop or desktop, or have a device with fewer USB ports then you need the best USB Hub HDMI. It is also called a splitter or hub. Thanks to it, we can have four or more that USB ports through one. But how does it work and how it creates magic?

When we have a limited number of USB ports, we remember the manufacturer and who made the decision to put so few, especially if we consider that a 7 in 1 USB C hub costs very cheap. The operation of these devices is very simple, and it can save us from problems if we have many devices connected to our PC, such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, headphones, etc.

USB Hub HDMI usually has four ports, and there are usually two types: those that need external power, and those that do not. Those that do not need an external plug are limited to the 900 milliamps that a USB 3.0 port is capable of offering. Or 500 in the case of USB 2.0. with the new standards, the power is even higher, and a USB 4 cable can handle up to 100 watts.

The way in which these devices work is quite similar to what we find in Wi-Fi (in the WiFi 4 standard at least). The controller is responsible for giving permission to each device to be able to transmit the signal to the USB port, assigning an address to each of these devices connected to the hub. 

This controller is sequentially "asking" each device if it has any information to transmit, where each device receives all the signals, but only responds to the exchanges that are directed to it.

It's so fast that we don't realize:

For example, it first asks the mouse to see if any clicks have been pressed. Second, ask the keyboard, and thirdly, the USB memory that we have connected, and start the cycle again. 

This can lead us to think that the transmission speed may be affected, or that the keystrokes of the keyboard or the mouse will reach the PC later. However, these "questions" are asked at a much faster rate than the sampling rate for keyboards and mice, which is 1,000 Hz for gaming keyboards and mice (1 ms, or 1,000 times per second).

Thus, the quality of the USB Hub HDMI will depend on the controller. If we are using USB 3.0, we will have a maximum speed of 5 Gbps (625 MB / s) according to the standard, but the memories do not really reach that speed. 

For this reason, it is very possible that, if we connect two USB memories to a hub, and copy files to both at the same time, we will reach the maximum speed in both memories in a similar way as if we connected each of them to the same port.

To take into account when buying one:

Taking into account that today almost all electronic devices have USB connections, there are many who are faced with the need to buy a 7 in 1 USB C hub to increase the connectivity of a computer, especially if they use a laptop.

Currently, we can find all kinds of USB hubs on the market and with all kinds of prices, however, when we have to choose one, it is best that we always decide on a quality one. We can find USB hubs from 4 or 5 dollars and up to 100 dollars. So, there are big differences between them, from the quality of the materials to the controller they use, the number of connections they offer, or if they have certain characteristics such as additional tension.

Therefore, before deciding on one model or another, it is recommended that we take into account certain details. One of them is whether it has external power or not. There are two types of USB hubs depending on this characteristic, those with external power and those that use the voltage provided by the USB port itself when connecting them. Also, we recommend buying Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI which is the modern in peripheral connectivity.

The quality of the materials is also important, even more so if we take into account that it is directly related to durability. It is not only on an aesthetic level, but if a USB Hub HDMI has quality materials, including, of course, the internal components, the durability will be greater, they will be heatless and ultimately, they will work better.

Additional features or functions are also something to consider. Depending on the use that we are going to give it, we may be interested in different functionalities or characteristics. Some hubs have displays that show the voltage and current intensity, which have specific ports to quickly charge other devices or even smart ports, capable of detecting what is connected to them and acting accordingly, for example.


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published