USB Hub for PS3?

[Ex Accountant]

Hi all,

I'm buying a PS3 for my father-in-law this Father's Day. I like the guy but I don't know if I like him enough to spend $499 for the 80GB coming out. I'd rather pay $399 for the 40GB and get a $100 Wal-Mart gift card to boot! The problem I see is that the 40GB only has 2 USB ports, correct?

My question is, if I connect a typical 4-port USB hub to the 40GB player, will the controllers still work smoothly or do controllers work better when connected directly?

Thanks and sorry for the NOOB question

[bajor27]

any usb hub would be fine. I'd reccomend a powered hub of course.

And you don't need to plug controllers in to use them - only to charge, so you probably wouldn't even need to buy a hub.

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by bajor27

any usb hub would be fine. I'd reccomend a powered hub of course.

And you don't need to plug controllers in to use them - only to charge, so you probably wouldn't even need to buy a hub.

By powered hub, you mean a hub that is powered by the PS3s USB port, right? Not one that plugs into the wall AND the ps3 - like the Rock Band HUB on the 360?
Anyway - Id get one that is powered by the ps3.

And yeah. PS3 controllers are Wireless. You dont even need to charge them with the ps3 - Any USB port works fine.

[cartier]

Originally Posted by X-Ninja

By powered hub, you mean a hub that is powered by the PS3s USB port, right? Not one that plugs into the wall AND the ps3 - like the Rock Band HUB on the 360?
Anyway - Id get one that is powered by the ps3.

And yeah. PS3 controllers are Wireless. You dont even need to charge them with the ps3 - Any USB port works fine.

Actually he most likely means a hub that plugs into the wall. While most hubs do draw power from the connected device like a computer or in this case a PS3 it is best if they have their own power source.

[Ex Accountant]

Thanks for the input. I just realized another potential problem. With the 60GB PS3 I own, each controller is assigned a specific USB port. For example, if 3 people are playing a game simultaneously, I might have port 1, Reneé might have port 2 and Cherie might have port 3.

I think what I should have asked is this: Can more than 2 people play games on the 40GB model simultaneously? Will a setup that involves a hub assign port 1 to my controller and then port 2a to Reneé and port 2b to Cherie?

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Ex Accountant

Thanks for the input. I just realized another potential problem. With the 60GB PS3 I own, each controller is assigned a specific USB port. For example, if 3 people are playing a game simultaneously, I might have port 1, Reneé might have port 2 and Cherie might have port 3.

I think what I should have asked is this: Can more than 2 people play games on the 40GB model simultaneously? Will a setup that involves a hub assign port 1 to my controller and then port 2a to Reneé and port 2b to Cherie?

No it should still work the same.

P.S. You can re-assign controllers from any game. Hit the PS button from inside any game.

[BorrowedTime]

Originally Posted by Ex Accountant

Thanks for the input. I just realized another potential problem. With the 60GB PS3 I own, each controller is assigned a specific USB port. For example, if 3 people are playing a game simultaneously, I might have port 1, Reneé might have port 2 and Cherie might have port 3.

I think what I should have asked is this: Can more than 2 people play games on the 40GB model simultaneously? Will a setup that involves a hub assign port 1 to my controller and then port 2a to Reneé and port 2b to Cherie?

Actually, your PS3 isn't assigning the controller to a USB port. Rather, your PS3 recognizes up to 7 BlueTooth Devices, and assigns the controllers to one of those spots. If the game supports it (EA's NHL 2008, for example) you can have 7 controllers going at once if they're all paired to the PS3.

[Basshead]

Originally Posted by Ex Accountant

Thanks for the input. I just realized another potential problem. With the 60GB PS3 I own, each controller is assigned a specific USB port. For example, if 3 people are playing a game simultaneously, I might have port 1, Reneé might have port 2 and Cherie might have port 3.

I think what I should have asked is this: Can more than 2 people play games on the 40GB model simultaneously? Will a setup that involves a hub assign port 1 to my controller and then port 2a to Reneé and port 2b to Cherie?

You DON'T need to have the controllers plugged in to use them. They work off of Bluetooth technology. I think you can have up to 7 or 8 controllers working at the same time. Like a previous poster said, you only need the usb ports to charge the controllers. The light indicators on the controllers themselves, indicate more or less 1st, 2nd, or 3rd player. Not what usb port they are plugged in to. This all holds true to the 20gb, 40gb, 60gb, and 80gb version of the PS3

[Ex Accountant]

Thanks for all the info. I can be a cheap bastard, buy him the less expensive model and not feel guilty about it!!!

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Ex Accountant

Thanks for all the info. I can be a cheap bastard, buy him the less expensive model and not feel guilty about it!!!

If your father-in-law's family uses digital cameras, wait and get the MGS4 80GB one. The built-in card reader will be handy for them.


fuad

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by cartier

Actually he most likely means a hub that plugs into the wall. While most hubs do draw power from the connected device like a computer or in this case a PS3 it is best if they have their own power source.

Why would that be?
...Do go on.

[ToonyLoons]

The only reason you will need a USB hub is if you are using USB devices. If for some reason you are using USB controllers, then yes you would want a hub to connect more devices. But I would advise you to use the Sony Sixaxis or DualShock3 controllers which are both bluetooth and only need a USB port to charge the battery, not to function. So unless you have more then two dead controllers, you will not need more then two USB ports.

If you have some wireless controllers that use a usb dongle to connect via 2.4ghz RF, then yes you would want more ports. And I will say silly you for getting those. Or if you have some wired usb controllers, i will say silly you again but then it holds true that you would need more ports. In both of these cases, i think this is when the port you use might matter for which controller number you have. I do not know because I only use the official Sony bluetooth wireless controllers.

[bilbravo]

Originally Posted by ToonyLoons

The only reason you will need a USB hub is if you are using USB devices. If for some reason you are using USB controllers, then yes you would want a hub to connect more devices. But I would advise you to use the Sony Sixaxis or DualShock3 controllers which are both bluetooth and only need a USB port to charge the battery, not to function. So unless you have more then two dead controllers, you will not need more then two USB ports.

If you have some wireless controllers that use a usb dongle to connect via 2.4ghz RF, then yes you would want more ports. And I will say silly you for getting those. Or if you have some wired usb controllers, i will say silly you again but then it holds true that you would need more ports. In both of these cases, i think this is when the port you use might matter for which controller number you have. I do not know because I only use the official Sony bluetooth wireless controllers.

The only USB dongle controllers I have are the ones for guitar hero and rock band. I say "silly developers".

X-Ninja:
The reason you would want a powered usb hub is that the bus only supports so much power. If you want to charge a bunch of stuff from the hub, it's best to pull the power from the wall because the PS3 isn't going to give that much juice to the hub. Most older external hard drives, for example, could not pull enough power over the USB connection to run so they had to have an external power supply. I don't know the number, but it doesn't put out a lot of power.

[Wreck]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

If your father-in-law's family uses digital cameras, wait and get the MGS4 80GB one. The built-in card reader will be handy for them.


fuad

or spend 10 bucks for a usb card reader hub and add that on lol.

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by BigBLUballz

or spend 10 bucks for a usb card reader hub and add that on lol.

I would agree with getting the 80GB MGS4 bundle. If he's gonna get that many add-ons, he mine as well just get a 360.

Originally Posted by bilbravo

The reason you would want a powered usb hub is that the bus only supports so much power. If you want to charge a bunch of stuff from the hub, it's best to pull the power from the wall because the PS3 isn't going to give that much juice to the hub. Most older external hard drives, for example, could not pull enough power over the USB connection to run so they had to have an external power supply. I don't know the number, but it doesn't put out a lot of power.

oh. hmmm... Didn't think of that. But still - Who's gonna have that many USB Devices plugged into the PS3? Let alone using every single one of them?

I still say that if he wants a hub he should get one powered by the PS3 - but thats just me.

[BorrowedTime]

Originally Posted by X-Ninja

oh. hmmm... Didn't think of that. But still - Who's gonna have that many USB Devices plugged into the PS3? Let alone using every single one of them?

The list of USB devices used with my PS3...

USB Keyboard (almost always plugged in)
Playstation Eye (almost always plugged in)
USB Headset (always plugged in - personal preference over Bluetooth or PSEye mic)
USB mini-5 cord for charging controller or linking PSP (sometimes I have need for both)
External HDD case
USB dongle for either GHIII or Rock Band (sometimes 2)
Rock Band Drum Kit
Rock Band Mic

At any given time, all 4 of my USB ports are occupied, and I occasionally wish I had at least one more port to use. Never underestimate the need for more USB ports.

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by BorrowedTime

The list of USB devices used with my PS3...

USB Keyboard (almost always plugged in)
Playstation Eye (almost always plugged in)USB Headset (always plugged in - personal preference over Bluetooth or PSEye mic)
USB mini-5 cord for charging controller or linking PSP (sometimes I have need for both)
External HDD case
USB dongle for either GHIII or Rock Band (sometimes 2)
Rock Band Drum Kit
Rock Band Mic
At any given time, all 4 of my USB ports are occupied, and I occasionally wish I had at least one more port to use. Never underestimate the need for more USB ports.

All the things i bolded are things that are also always plugged into my PS3 24/7.
Except i also have a controller adaptor plugged in all the time... (I lied. My mic isnt always plugged in... the drums are though. )

Still working fine for me. Though, I have 2 hubs.

Maybe with enough things plugged into it, it would stop workiing - but I think it would need alot of connected+in-use devices to have any effect. I've got an un-countable number of USB devices plugged into my computer,
A Steering Wheel, Joystick, PS3 controller (used as a game controller with drivers), eyetoy (my webcam), my mouse, keyboard, wireless adaptor, Guitar Hero adaptor, another PS2-USB adaptor, a mini-b cable plugged into a FLY pen, a finger-print scanner, and god only knows what else. No problems here... I only have 2 USB ports by the way. Everything is in 2 light-up blue Hubs .

[mewantyblu]

I'd say go with the 40g, and keep the $100 gift card, that way he has a nice blu-ray player and you have a gift card , its a win , win

[Ex Accountant]

Originally Posted by mewantyblu

I'd say go with the 40g, and keep the $100 gift card, that way he has a nice blu-ray player and you have a gift card , its a win , win

Yeah, I think I'll go this route. Especially now that I understand we can have more than 2 people playing a game simultaneously and that extra USB ports/a hub aren't really important for his setup since they would only be used for charging the controllers. Better yet, I should just get him a card and stop spending so much freakin money. Between my car breaking down last month and buying 150+ blus in 13 months, I am strapped...Of course, this didn't stop me from buying National Treasure and Narnia today...

[mewantyblu]

Maybe you could make him a card and do a Maccoroni and glue on constuction paper art for him instead, and buy another ps3 for yourself, now that would be the way to go