Belkin Bus Station

Author : Wayne Date : 20th November 2000

Introduction :

I can still clearly remember an article I wrote for another site in which I pondered the future of USB. From its introduction to the appearance of mainstream products designed to take advatage of it seemed like an eternity. These were the days when people wondered what they were ever going to need a USB port for, let alone two of them. With USB's ability to "daisy chain" up to 127 items, and its transfer rate topping out around the 1.5 MB/s range, there seemed no reason why USB shouldn't be an instant hit, and it was only really the lack of peripherals that stunted its growth.

USB got its first taste of mainstream fame when microsoft produced its service patch 2.1 for Windows 95, or the USB patch as some came to know it. Built-in support didn't happen until the release of Windows 98, and of course Microsoft also continued to support the standard by being one of the first companies to produce input devices which supported it.

Here we are into the first year of the new millennium, and at last USB is becoming a major feature on the computing scene, unfortunately, just as its getting into its swing, along comes USB2. It's just my view, but I really think USB2 could have been delayed a little longer, but that's progress for you.

Many thought the day would never come, but a great many people are now faced with the prospect that 2 USB ports is just not enough to cater for their scanner, printer, keyboard, mouse, jostick, modem and perhaps even digital camera. We have finally reached the point where people are looking to use hubs to expand the number of ports available to them and drop those slow and dated parallel, serial and PS/2 ports that have been chugging along for far too long.

So who are Belkin? :

Founded in 1982, Belkin Components is one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer cables, surge protection products and USB connectivity products. The company's product portfolio also includes standard and customised cables, manual and automatic peripheral sharing devices, Local Area Network (LAN) hardware and accessories, cellular/PCS products, audio-visual cables and components for the desktop and notebook computer user.

More and more hubs are beginning to find their way onto computer store shelves, many from companies I have never even heard of. The great advantage with companies like Belkin is their experience in the field. 1982 may not seem that long ago, but in computing terms 1982 was almost the "dark ages".

The BusStation - First impressions :

Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the performance and design, the packaging of a product is what the consumer sees first. Even the experienced users will be drawn to a certain product by its packaging before they pick it up and check out the specifications. I have to say that Belkin seem to have got the box design right on the money. It is made from a fairly rigid card with a good quality feel to it, and the colour scheme is eye-catching without being tacky. The BusStation itself is sat inside a moulded plastic rigid inner which is contoured to follow its shape.

Not content to stop at this however, there is also a fold-out rear panel to the box which gives extra information and product design options. A classy piece of box design that certainly warrants a mention.

The BusStation - design and spec :

What makes the bus station so unique is its modular design. Apart from the very bottom module which is an integral part of the BusStation, the other three modules above it can be clicked out and replaced. The integral module houses the power connector socket, the USB-B cable connector and four downstream USB ports. In its supplied configuration, each of the remaining three modules sports a single downstream port, giving a total of seven ports in all.

If you're wondering what the two round stickers are on the top module, they are informing you to place a thumb on each when clicking a module out of the station. Talk about leaving no stone unturned!

Specifications :

System Requirements	Macintosh or Windows computer with USB capabilities
System Requirements	Windows 95 revision B, Windows 98, 2000 or ME Macintosh OS 8.1 or higher
Box includes	BusStation, USB device cable, 5 Volt - 4 Amp power adapter, User guide
Upstream ports	1
Downstream ports	7
Removeable modules	3
LED's	1 for power indicator, 7 for downstream power indicator
Per-port voltage	DC +5V
Per-port current	500 mA (Max)
Operational Temp.	5 Celsius to 40 Celsius
Storage Temp.	-20 Celsius to 60 Celsius
Humidity	0% to 80% RH noncondensing
Enclosure	ABS Plastic
Weight	14.5 oz
Dimensions :
Depth	3.75 inches
Width	4.5 inches
Height	5 inches
Power supply	DC 5V - 4 A

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