The Belkin (F1U401) 1-Port / 4-Uplink USB Switch

When you have a bunch of computers located in a small space, there comes the need to have access to an external device by more than one of the computers. The problem could also exist, that multiple computers need access at the same time to one of these devices, and when that happens, you don't want to have to shift from computer to computer. Instead of having one machine for each external device, a switch can be purchased that will link the computers together, and make it easier for more than one person to use the external device at the same time.

Using a switch, I should explain, that the computers won't actually be able to use the device at the "exact" same time. The way it works, is that packets of information are sent through the USB cable, and on to the computer. The way that a switch works, is that it allows packets to flow to one computer, and then switches over to let packets go to a second computer. This rotates through the computers, until the switch opens up for the first computer again. This creates a momentary delay (that you probably won't notice), but it does create a method to which information travels to all of the computers (or from each of the computers).

This Belkin USB Switch has 1 main USB Port, which hooks up to your main US device using that devices A-type connector, and taking advantage of the A-type USB port on the switch. On the reverse side of the switch are 4 other USB Ports, which will serve as the B-type port for the A-type connector on each of your computers. In easier to understand terms, the USB cables from the computers hook into the 'B' side of the switch, while the external device always hooks into the 'A' side of the switch.

Belkin produces both 2x1 and 4x1 USB Peripheral Switches, so it depends on how many computers you have in your area for how many ports you are going to need. When hooking up your external device, you just need any external "toy" that has USB connections. So, you can hook up printers, scanners, cameras, or external storage devices, and rotate between the different devices depending on what your needs are. The important thing to remember, is that you want to put the correct software for the device on each of the computers, to make sure that they are then compatible to your devices. Doing so will give you immediate access to the USB device using this switch.

When you are working with the Belkin Switch, you no longer have to worry about plugging and re-plugging devices into each other. With all of the USB cables leading to one switch, you then only need to rotate devices on that main USB switch. It makes things so much easier if you just have one main scanner, one main storage device, or one main printer that all of the computers might need to work with at the same time. The delay between the switch and the computers isn't even noticeable, so you don't even have to think twice about whether your computer will react slower to having the switch hooked up to it.

The Belkin 1-Port / 4-Uplink USB Switch is not only a really easy computing tool to use, but it takes up almost no space in your office. The little tool can really fit into the palm of your hand, so you don't have to worry about cleaning up a lot of extra space for it to work. The transfer speeds can be as good as 12Mps, and the connections make it so that you can have up to 30 feet between the computers, depending on how you hook them up. It works on both Macs and PC's, so if you have a USB port on any computer, you basically know that this is going to be a useful switch. It even comes with software to help the interaction between two different systems.

In this particular instance, we use the Belkin Uplink USB Switch for the graduate student computer office. It is set up so that the Macintosh and Dell Computers can be interconnected to each of the external devices that we have available. The primary uses are two printers, one set up for glossy photo printing, while the other one is set up for basic black and white, and color printing. It is also interchanged with an IBM Scanner that can be used on pictures as well as text documents, and which is used to copy over manuscripts. Finally, we have a digital camera that is used for picture taking on campus, which is also used on the USB port. All of the devices interchange quite nicely, and none of them have any delays with the Belkin Switch.

The switching software is very easy to set up on your computer, and once done, it is a piece of cake to put to use. It makes everything work flawlessly, and you won't have to worry about teaching people just how each of the steps works. The Belkin Switch is all about making life easier for people who have multiple computers, but a limited number of external devices. So, if you have one printer, this can be an extremely helpful tool to hooking up all your computers to it, or if you have one scanner that you want to have images sent to multiple computers, this is the tool to have. This switch sells for between $30.00 and $40.00 depending on where you are shopping, so look around for the best price. Regardless of what you end up paying though, I think this is a valuable tool to have if you are in a situation where you want to share an important USB device on multiple computers.