What is the model number of the Stratitec hub? The only mini-hub they are now marketing as a single item is the USBM4, a small flat USB 2.0 hub with about a one-inch cable (a six-foot extension cable comes with it). I have one, and it seems to work OK.
Their other mini-hubs normally come packaged with a regular self-powered hub. I do not know the individual model numbers, but the four ports are arranged as two rows of two ports, not flat. These hubs are USB 1.1, so if yours looks like this, that may be your problem.
I generally do not recommend bus-powered hubs unless they are limited to keyboards, mice, flash memory, etc. All devices draw some power, and the 500ma available from the bus must be shared among all the devices. Drives, printers, etc. require more power and I always use powered hubs for these.
As to brand names, I have used many with about equal results. So long as they meet the USB 2.0 specs, I look more for shape, size, and port arrangement than for name. One I like from this standpoint is the Belkin F5U234 because the ports are arranged on a arc so there is more room for things like flash drives; also, it is small enough to fit well in a laptop case (though not quite as small as the Stratitec USBM4, but its ports are crowded.
Hope this helps
Frank
What is a good name brand in a usb 2.0 compatible hub? specifically what i am looking for is something that will give me 4-6 new ports, and 1 or 2 of those facing front would be nice. a small form factor would also be nice, and a powered hub is a must. something relatively inexpensive, but reliable. i just added a Stratitec 4 port mini hub (non powered) and i am having huge issues with speed of any devices connected through this hub. the new hub was connected to an existing powered Belkin hub, which still works fine. so anyway, experience and brand name recomendations would be greatly aprecciated.
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