Orico 10 port USB 3.0 Hub

[vulkan]

I recently made a random eBay purchase to add to my astro kit and hopefully this will not just be a review but will be a record of the mods I make.

I hate cables, they are tangled irritating bundles of spaghetti that seem to be out to get me frustrated, I had the idea of mounting a USB hub on my mount so I could have a short untangle-able cable loom and ONE usb cable to my PC.

I am also now looking at adding power distribution to it, but more of that later.......

Presenting the Orico 10 port USB 3.0 hub.

First impression is that this thing is HUGE, I seem to have bought the monolith from 2001 a space odyssey! the end connections are pretty simple, a USB 3.0 type B connection, a power input connection for 12v, and a momentary push on switch.

It feels solid as a rock and should be pretty drop proof, it has so far had no problem with connecting to my mount through a USB-Serial converter (Plugable PL2303), my camera and guide camera at the same time. It also comes with a 12v 3A power supply to power itself.

Two bad points, the LED's are blue/white and are obnoxiously bright for use at night and the momentary switch is very easy to catch, i wouldn't like to be fiddling around and catch it in the middle of an imaging run.

Cracking it open its clear that it is mostly empty space, this is where the gears started turning in my head....

first things first, lets get those nasty LED's replaced with some nice low power reds

Much better

The light to the bottom led is a surface mount LED I don't have the tools to replace just yet just taped over it with some white electrical tape for now.

The next part of the plan is to look at filling all this empty space with some power distribution innards, I should be able to fit plenty of surface plugs so i can distribute 12v to the mount and accessories with the same 1m length cables I intend to use for the USB cables.

More to follow soon when I can get to the local electrical place to find some sockets and plugs for the 12v, and a better switch to replace the momentary one.

till then i just need to keep it away from any bone wielding apes  .

Nick.

p.s. this is my first kit review, though I'm not sure if it now belongs in the DIY section. let me know anything I missed and I will try and include it in any reviews I do in the future.

[red dwalf]

Interesting modification, I also use a powered usb 2 hub and they do tidy up the cables alot and so only need one active usb cable to the pc.

[red dwalf]

I see your a notts guy, anywhere local to me, i.e. Sandiacre

[vulkan]

Not too far away, I'm actually closer to Mansfield.

Only 40 mins or so away really.

[Seme]

Hi could i ask was this from a uk ebay shop?

Cheers

[JamesF]

Could be very handy if you want to connect a load of USB2 peripherals up over a single USB3 connection.

James

[JamesF]

Hi could i ask was this from a uk ebay shop?

Cheers

I had a quick search on ebay and most seem to come from China, but there are a few UK sellers shipping a slightly different model.  Massive variation in price, too: from £40 to £140 for what appears to be the same thing.

James

[JamesF]

Found one of the same design from a UK seller now.

James

[vulkan]

Sorry its taken a while to reply, I got mine from a Chinese eBay seller but one that has a UK stock distribution.

There are a few of them about now that sell from China but ship from the UK (free postage is a good clue) I have found the service from these sort of sellers to be great and the shipping speed to be very fast.

I have now drilled the end plate of the USB hub for some 2 pin connectors from Maplin so I can get my power distribution set up from inside the hub.

Pictures to follow soon 

[Seme]

Any pictures yet does look a good project.

[JamesF]

I have bought the 7-port model which looks very good.  Not had a chance to try it yet though.  I appear to have run out of power sockets 

James

[Seme]

Has any one found a UK supplier of these i keep looking on the bay but they are international shipping from China.

And have you done any more with you're power outlets mob?

Cheers

Darren

[Zakalwe]

Amazon sell the 7 port version.

I have one and it does what it says on the tin. The LEDs are very bright...I just covered each one with a little black heatshrink. Mine is now mounted on the mount...it sure helps to control the mass of wires.

[JamesF]

Mine came from these people, who at least claim to be in the UK (and it did arrive within a couple of days): http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Easylink-PC-Store

James

[JamesF]

This is the one I bought: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290985043342

James

[Seme]

James

Many Thanks

And that does look real good.

Very nice set up.

Darren

[vulkan]

Sorry its taken a while to update, had a crazily busy couple of weeks, here is the finished product attached to the mount with double sided tape

The two power taps are connected to the main power input of the USB hub and are 2 pin connectors from Maplin.

I also had a new toy delivered, a shiny new CCD and filter wheel, so apologies everyone for all the clouds!

[JamesF]

Looks very neat

James

[mhard26339]

Hi Nick,

Very tidy, I am currently using an industrial Starteck 7 port but looking for a 10 port and this looks ideal; my main interest however id the cable for the mount to her USB i.e. rs232 to USB, nice and short, is it a commercial item? if so where? Thanks

Regards

Mike

[vulkan]

Hi Mike,

Sorry its taken so long to reply, had to disappear from the forum for a bit to sort life out.

But now thats out of the way and the dust is blown off the scope!

the USB to RS232 is a HitecAstro EQDIR that i shortened the cable down to fit.

Nick