Can anyone reommend a powered 7-port USB 3.0 hub with power switches...

[macguy80]

...that is not made in China?

I have a 7-port USB 2.0 hub that's made in China from ThinkGeek.com that I am starting to distrust. Last night, I was charging my iphone on one port, and had 3 other low-power devices attached and going.

I heard a very small (quiet) pop, and swear I saw a single small spark out of the corner of my eye, coming from the iPhone's port, which I immediately switched off and disconnected.

The iPhone is fine, as is the Apple-supplied USB cable it was using at the time.

One of the other ports on this hub quit working months ago, and will not switch on or power anything.

So it's time to trash this one and start over. I'd like a bit better build quality, and avoiding China is a start, I think. Made in USA/Canada would be great, if such a device exists, but I'll take any country except China. ThinkGeek.com no longer stocks the unit I have, which is beyond any warranty period it once had.

Thanks for all recommendations!

[fohat.digs]

Slightly off-topic, but I have always found USB hubs to be flaky and temporary no matter what.

First, get more than one of them, and don't expect to load more than about 4 ports anyway.

Second, put the "mission-critical" pieces on the best one, closest to the motherboard, non-powered if possible.

Third, put the low-priority pieces and battery-charging activities way downstream.

Last, look at the power consumption. Theoretically, USB is 5V DC @ half an amp, but even if your "small" devices don't seem to be drawing much juice, a big consumer might feel like he is not getting enough to satisfy him.

[macguy80]

Hi!

Thanks for that advice. I really appreciate your taking the time to give it, and I will take that advice into consideration as soon as I replace this contraption. I definitely don't want a fire hazard on my hands.

Also, by low-power, I meant keyboard and mouse, specifically. I don't think I've ever had more than 4 ports switched on at any given time, but it's time for this hub to go.

[VinnyCordeiro]

Good luck trying to find consumer electronics not made in China. Almost all electronics components manufacturers have their factories at Shenzhen, which in turn attracts the consumer electronics manufacturers. The fact that a product was made in China isn't enough to say that it is good or bad.

[macguy80]

Good luck trying to find consumer electronics not made in China.

Yeah, I know. Just wishful thinking on my part, I suppose.

The fact that a product was made in China isn't enough to say that it is good or bad.

I guess you're right. In my mind, I guess I equated woefully underpaid and overworked labor with less quality control, which is probably an unfair assessment. So I'll reformat my question:

Can anyone recommend a USB hub with the above specs, regardless of where it's made, with a decent track record in reliability and (more importantly) safety? I realize that even the best-made product with a great reputation can have the occasional lemon.

Thanks, all! 

[heedpantsnow]

I have really enjoyed Anker's products. They have quite a few hubs, maybe one of them will fit your needs.

I've also had awful experiences with the cheap generic Chinese brands.

[macguy80]

@heedpantsnow:

Thanks for that!

Yes, I think you just put into words the reason I was trying to avoid China, with words I could not think of. The product I'm replacing was both cheap and generic, and that, specifically is what I do not want.

Before posting here today, I saw a Youtube review of another Anker hub. And I think they have a product that will suit my needs. It does not have individual switches, but it does have a master on/off switch, and that's good enough for me. 

[Blaise170]

To comment on China: it depends on how much the factory is paid. Most American companies just want their products made as cheap as possible. Pay the factories a bit more, and your product also improves.

[macguy80]

Good point!