4 Port Powered USB Hubs And Noise ?

[BOBRR]

Hello,

A happy holiday to all.

Question: Do those 4 Port (or more) Powered USB Hubs tend to radiate "noise" ?

If so, around what freq's ?

Regards,
Bob

 

[AK9R]

Any device with a switch-mode power supply or buck converter, which is most electronic devices these days, can emit RF. Some devices might be relatively quiet. Some might be noisy on a certain range of frequencies. Some might be noisy on a different range of frequencies. You are at the mercy of the product engineers.

What frequencies are you listening to?

 

[BOBRR]

Hi,

Noise pulses are pretty much everywhere between
about 2.5 to 3.5 MHz. Pulse spacing is approx.0.040 MHz.
Very periodic.

Regards,
Bob

 

[iMONITOR]

Any device with a switch-mode power supply or buck converter, which is most electronic devices these days, can emit RF. Some devices might be relatively quiet. Some might be noisy on a certain range of frequencies. Some might be noisy on a different range of frequencies. You are at the mercy of the product engineers.

What frequencies are you listening to?

They shouldn't be if they're well made with shielded cable.

Aker makes some nice USB hubs!

https://www.anker.com/products/114/141/usba-hubs

 

[a417]

Cable shielding doesn't help when the chassis is radiating hash noise garbage.

 

[iMONITOR]

Cable shielding doesn't help when the chassis is radiating hash noise garbage.

Correct and that's why I recommended Anker, they are shielded from electromagnetic interference.
(Sorry I misspelled Anker in post #4)

 

[a417]

Correct and that's why I recommended Anker, they are shielded from electromagnetic interference.

Have you verified that? If someone pops one open and it's shielded, i'd be shocked. I'll bet you it's just a thin plastic shell and the usual marketing wank.

I just looked at the two listed on the current Anker website and neither the declaration of conformity or browser page contain anything about shielding. They literally have the FCC part 15 disclosure stating that they "comply", and then the usual garbage about "if this device causes issues, relocate the antenna, the device, use separate power circuits". If they were shielded and marketed it as such, it'd be more obvious to the eye.

 

[iMONITOR]

Have you verified that? Could just be marketing wank.

No but Anker makes excellent products. I also use their portable battery packs. I have virutally no interference in my home office and I have tons of computer gear running all the time with cables everywhere!

"This hub features two standard USB 3.0 ports, SD and microSD card readers, an HDMI port, and a USB-C cable that connects the whole thing to your device. The HDMI port supports up to 4K resolution at 30Hz, as well as 1080p at 60Hz. Anker also packed the hub with an “electromagnetic interference shield” to stop Wi-Fi from messing with its operation. It’s nice and portable, too."
[source]
https://www.macworld.com/article/233944/ankers-18-usb-c-hub-turns-one-port-into-five.html

The Best USB Hubs on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-usb-hubs.html

 

[a417]

I just popped open the older anker USB hub on my desk, and there's a bare PCB staring back at me. Not sure which revisions of the hardware have it, or where you can verify the claims and order one...but I'm still skeptical. Macworld.com and hyperenthusiastic reviewers on amazon are not valid sources for tech specs, sorry.

 

[iMONITOR]

I just popped open the older anker USB hub on my desk, and there's a bare PCB staring back at me. Not sure which revisions of the hardware have it, or where you can verify the claims and order one...but I'm still skeptical. Macworld.com and hyperenthusiastic reviewers on amazon are not valid sources for tech specs, sorry.

Well I don't think ANKER would say this if it wasn't true.

"Anker also packed the hub with an “electromagnetic interference shield” to stop Wi-Fi from messing with its operation."

Regardless I don't have any interference in my shack (other than the wife).

 

[iMONITOR]

My buddy used a USB hub from Sabrent which are usally a little less expensive than Anker:

USB Hubs Archives | Sabrent

www.sabrent.com

I'm not sure which one but he has not interference issues with it. If you buy one you can always return it if it's not shielded or causes interference.

 

[a417]

Well I don't think ANKER would say this if it wasn't true.

"Anker also packed the hub with an “electromagnetic interference shield” to stop Wi-Fi from messing with its operation."

Anker didn't say it. It's not on their documentation for that device. A compensated macworld author wrote it. Just because you read it on the internets does not mean it is authoritative.

If that device was well and truly shielded, it would say so. There'd be testing documentation, claims, reports, standards met, etc... It would be on the website, on the packaging, etc. This device might have a little tiny metal shield over a single chip in there, but it's in no way a shielded device. And that shield is probably there because they had interference problems of their own, and boom! now it's shielded...doesn't say which way, does it?

Buy something that meets an industrial standard for a mission critical job, you'll see what I mean. You'll have a ream of paperwork delivered with it certifying the device, and the testing...not a catchy line in a single macworld article.

 

[iMONITOR]

All I know it works and it doesn't cause interference. I already spent way too much time trying to justify that.