Network Hubs (UK)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Netgear FS605 Platinum Series 5 Port 10/100 Unmanaged Switch
If you're setting up a network, you are going to need a switch to sit at the centre of your network amd direct communications between computers. Netgear's Platinum Series 5 Port 10/100 Switch FS605 is a five-port switch, so you can connect up to five computers. It supports fast Ethernet, running at 100 Mbps, but is also compatible with the slower Ethernet standard at 10 Mbps.
A switch is a device to which all computers in a network or section of a network send their data. A switch works out which computer should receive the data and sends it out to just that port. This is different from a hub, which directs everything it receives to all available ports, leaving it up to the receiving computers to work out if the data is intended for them.
It shouldn't be hard to see that a switch is a lot quicker than a hub. All ports on a switch have the potential to run at the full speed of the network to which they're connected. In a hub, the top speed of any port is the speed of the network divided by the number of ports in the hub. There's also a limit to the number of hubs you can connect together to extend a network--there's no such limit when connecting switches.
The FS605, about the size of a Pocket PC or portable CD drive, has a set of six LEDs on its front edge. The first shows when the power from the separate mains power pack is connected, while the other five show when individual ports in the switch are active. They shine yellow for an Ethernet connection and green for a fast Ethernet one, and flash as data passes through them.
You can position this Netgear switch horizontally on the desktop or vertically using the stand provided or wall-mounting. With all recent versions of Windows, all the software you need to set up a network is built into the operating system and no extra programs are needed or supplied by Netgear.
Should you need to connect the FS605 to another switch to extend your network, you don't need to worry about using special cables or designating one of the ports as an uplink between the two switches. This device is intelligent enough to work it out itself and any of the five ports will automatically switch to an uplink mode as required. --Simon Williams
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Belkin USB 2.0 7-PORT HUB *
Belkin USB 2.0 7-Port Plus Hub (Brown)Nearly all your gadgets connect to your computer through USB. You can add ports for your devices with the USB Plus Hub and remove desktop cable clutter with our patent- pending, cable-management feature. Need even more USB ports to connect all your devices? Add another Belkin 7-Port USB Plus Hub on top of your USB Plus Hub to maximize available USB ports and save valuable desktop space. Tired of searching the desk to find the cables to charge your mobile phone, PDA, or iPod? The USB Plus Hub adds cable management- keeping cables organised in one location. Features:Adds up to 7 USB devices to your computer Features 2 top-load USB ports for quick access Includes an internal weight and stay-put pads to keep Hub anchored to the desk Requires no external power supply (for most devices) Prevents damage to your computer and devices with over-current protection Comes with a Manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
8 port Desktop switch 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Network Switching Hub
8 port Ethernet switch. This product would be ideal at the heart of all home or small networking systems with its fast speeds of 10/100Mbps and its automatic MAC learning capabilities. This switch has a wall mountable case so it is possible to attach to a wall or be placed on a convenient flat surface. Expandable by cascading more hubs together. Plastic case, desktop or wall-mounting design. External power adapter supplied.