Linksys USBHUB4C ProConnect Compact USB 4-Port Hub

Ready to run, right out of the box, this compact USB four-port hub makes high-speed, low-cost expansion a snap. The hub allows four USB devices to be configured and ready for use as soon as you plug them in. Equipped with advanced hot-swap technology, the hub even lets you attach or detach USB devices while your computer is on, making it possible to switch devices on the fly!

The Linksys Proconnect compact USB four-port hub offers data transfer rates of up to 12 Mbps, which makes it perfect for speed-hungry multimedia, gaming, and Ethernet networking applications. For added expandability, you can daisy chain the hub to additional USB hubs. Use up to 127 USB devices at the same time.

Product Description
Specially designed for PCs equipped with a USB port, the Compact USB 4-Port Hub from Linksys offers instant connectivity for up to four USB devices. Plug in peripherals like digital cameras, Ethernet adapters, modems, printers, mice, keyboards, scanners, and portable data storage devices in seconds.Ready to run right out of the box, the Compact USB 4-Port Hub makes high-speed, low-cost expansion a snap. The Compact USB 4-Port Hub allows four USB devices to be configured and ready for use as soon as you plug them in. Equipped with advanced hot swap technology, the hub even lets you attach or detach USB devices while your computer is on, making it possible to switch devices on the fly! The Compact USB 4-Port Hub offers data transfer rates of up to 12 million bits per second, which makes it perfect for speed-hungry multimedia, gaming, and Ethernet networking applications. For added expandability, you can daisy-chain the 4-Port Hub to additional USB hubs - you can use up to 127 USB devices at the same time! Expand the capabilities of your PC with one easy step. It's never been easier!

What does not appear on Amazon's description, but appears on the back of the packaging is a warning from Linksys that this product may not work with USB devices that draw power through the connection, unless you buy an optional AC adapter add-on ...

You see, the USB socket provides both connectivity to other devices, and a low current power supply to those devices that need it -- like, for example, a mouse or a keyboard.

If you are attaching only devices that also plug into the wall -- such as a printer or scanner -- this may be a great, cheap solution for you. But if you need to be able to add on other devices without worrying about whether they can draw power through this un-powered hub, you'd better step up and buy a powered hub.

I hope this helps you avoid the mistake I made.


The hub works, but...   September 10, 2003
Jacob Hantla (Chandler, AZ United States)
346 out of 350 found this review helpful

Like some reviews say, "You just plug it in and it works." Well that's a good start; that's what USB is supposed to do. But before you spent the money to buy this hub, consider the downsides.

1. Unfortunately the USB cord is about five or six inches long. On my computer and many others that means that the hub is just hanging precariously of the back of the tower.
2. Second, the hub is not compact. Its rectangular clunky design may take up a lot of very valuable area (especially since it may be hanging off the back of your desktop).
3. Thirdly, and probably most frustrating for me: no power cord included! I've purchased Belkin hubs in the past. They are all powered so that they work with powered devices. Unforturnately, Linksys says that you may purchase one of these separately. But when I call Linksys technical support they say, "Oh we're sorry, we don't support that product anymore," and everywhere I've read says that the cord is no longer available for purchase. Maybe I'll have to do ebay.

BUT this may be the hub for if:
1. You don't mind the short cord (ie if you're using it for a laptop or if your tower setup is condusive to a hub with very short wires)
2. You don't mind the awkward shape.
3. You don't use any USB powered devices.

The hub is definately inexpensive and it works well. Unfortunately, for me, the drawbacks made this an bad purchase.


Desktop Users, Beware!   May 20, 2002
Soo W. Lee (Washington, DC, USA)
82 out of 111 found this review helpful

As a desktop user with limited space, enchanted with the simplicity of USB's plug-and-play capability, and thoroughly sick of getting on my knees to unplug a device from one of my two USB ports several times a week, I thought this hub would be ideal. After all, this has the same number of ports as other, larger hubs, but takes up a lot less space.

There's just one problem: the cord on the hub also takes up a lot space-that is, it's incredibly short, barely six inches. If I were to hook this up in the back of my computer, I'd have more ports all right, but I'd STILL have to get on my hands and knees to reach those. And that, for me, defeats the purpose of buying this particular hub. I'd rather get a larger one and sacrifice the desk space.

Now, if you're a laptop user or you just want more hubs, regardless of whether or not you have to get on your knees to get to them, this may be worth it. But if you're in it for the convenience of staying seated at your computer desk, I'd advise looking elsewhere.


Fat and Clunky for "Compact", No USB Extension Included.   April 14, 2003
60 out of 61 found this review helpful

This has to be the fattest "compact" USB adapter I have ever seen. I've had USB hubs that were a 1/4 of the USBHUB4C's size, and got the job done well. AND, those other hubs were FREE after mail-in rebate....

It would have been nice if Linksys included an USB "A" extension cable with the USBHUB4C, since the cable itself is only about 5" long. It doesn't really benefit desktop users to have a short, stubby USB hub hanging off the back of the computer. If you have an extension cable, use it.

For some reason, the DC power adapter, USBHUB4CP, that you supposedly can purchase separately to turn this USBHUB4C into a powered USB hub, doesn't exist anymore on the web.... So don't count on this hub for any USB device that draws power from the computer itself, unless you can figure out the DC rating for this hub.


Reduce the clutter behind your desktop computer.   November 19, 2002
MartyHansen (Los Angeles, CA USA)
41 out of 49 found this review helpful

I recently replaced my powered 4 port hub with this compact unit from Linksys. I was amazed by how much this simple change reduced the clutter behind my desktop computer.

My previous 4 port unit had its own power supply (a brick-shaped AC adapter). But the messiness caused by the hub was exacerbated by 1) the lengthy cable which ran to it, and by 2) the need to route all of the other cables (much further) to reach it.

With the Linksys hub, everthing is much more tidy. All of the cables flow neatly out from behind my CPU (as nature had originally intended), and the clutter behind my computer has been greatly reduced.

Since all of my USB devices have their own power supplies, (scanner, printers and Palm cradle), the unpowered feature of this Linksys hub was not a problem.

I had originally purchased this item assuming that I would use it on-the-road with my laptop PC. You could imagine my surprise when I ended up using it with my deskptop computer -- to make my house look more attractive! I highly recommend it.