Getting an extra USB port.

Hi to all.

I have a project where the Mini2440 board is embedded into a metal case. I
need to expose to the outside at least two USB Host ports. As the board
only has one, I was wonder what is the better way to get an extra usable
port without using an external hub. I have seen this module:

http://www.bb-elec.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=732

But the price is to high for the application. I have seen the chip used on
the Micro2440 SDK board, but it is not marked in the schematic. I hope that
some one can tell me if the hub chip is the only way to have one more USB,
or there is an extra signal I can get from the board to have an additional
port.

Thanks a lot.

Would a consumer-grade plastic 4 port hub be OK?  I am sure I didn't pay
more than $15-20US for it.

Hi davef.

What hub do you use?. Is it an external hub?.

Thanks.

Yes, external.  Bought at our local Dick Smith (consumer electronics) shop.
 No brand from China.  Sorry, it is at home so can't tell you the part
number.

But, they must be a common item.

I was wondering if the Usb Device could not be used as a Usb Host,
in the S3C2440 there is support for it, but the pull-up and pull-down
resistors must be changed and added ...

has anyone done something similar ?

I also wonder if my OS ( WINCE6 ) has the driver to work with the Usb Host
1, it works with the Usb Host 0 ... as other OS's does ...

any suggestions ?

Cristiano

What a problem!. Besides disassembling a cheap USB hub, I can't find
solution. Anybody has a better way?

I hope that somebody can tell me what is the chip used as hub on the
Micro2440 SDK board. As I told before, it is not marked in the schematic.

Thanks.

The cheap 4-port hub, would be bus-powered, and while one might get lucky
and manage to run 2-3 devices off the bus-powered hug, chances are that
it'd become a problem, sooner or later.

IMHO, usb storage is not an issue, i.e. I think even 4 USB storage
(thumbdrives) would work fine, off a buspowered el-cheapo hub, but for
things like UVC webcam, wireless usb dongle... I'd tend to say, forget it.

However, I believe that a little careful and clever hack could be to add a
regulated 5V supply from a high amp rail, to turn the cheap hub, into a
powered hub, though never tried that out.

129 Bucks for a 4-port naked bare-ass USB-Hub?! Are they friggin mad???? I
have a miniature 4-Port USB from china, bought it for CNY 15 (~ $2.5) -
that one stripped of its casing is way smaller than that piece...
</rant>

>>129 Bucks 

))) I think the point is missed. 1.29 seems an ok price

Ann:
$129.00 -- I'd say the truth is somewhere in the middle ;)

You can not get a extra signal from Mini2440 but use HUB.I think HUB is the
easiest way to expand USB port if have OS on board.if no OS,this will take
you very much time to write driver (HUB driver and other device drivers).I
have taken two months to study USB driver ,but only learn how to write U
disk driver,the HUB driver failed.

The chip used on the Micro2440 SDK board is the "AU9254"
See http://www.datasheetarchive.com/AU9254-datasheet.html#datasheets
I have used it and if you want talk to me and see the circuit working call
me at Skype gmstephan.

I think this is the way to go:

http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/case_accessories/iu01_usb_expansion