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Posts: 6,453 | Thanked: 20,983 times | Joined on Sep 2012 @ UK
#45
Originally Posted by chill View Post
One thing still doesn't compute, though: if the N900 can provide at most 200mA, and the hub takes one unit of 100mA for itself, there is only 100mA left for the devices.
Not necessarily. To be more precise, USB 2 specifies power in up to 5 steps in 100mA increments. Every device must start as a low power device, consuming one power unit. That is up to 100mA, not necessarily 100mA. Only after a successful enumeration and negotiation with the host for more power is the device allowed to switch to consuming more power unit, up to a maximum of 500mA. At least such is the theory. In practice, this is simplified to "low power" (up to 100mA) and "high power" (up to 500mA).

I have seen compliant devices that take exactly 0mA in the "low power" mode. For example the N900 itself, when connected to the PC. I have also seen non-compliant devices that take more than 500mA before they even connect properly. For example el-cheapo USB HDD enclosures.

Your hub is unlikely to consume the full 100mA. It is probably a low-power device and is allowed up to that much by the standard, but it is more likely to take only about 20mA, leaving a bit more for any attached devices.

When in doubt, invest in one of these gizmos and measure it yourself.
 

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