D-Link intros DUB-9240 wireless USB kit

Hot on the heels of several other wireless USB hubs, D-Link is making sure it joins the party with time to spare as it unveils the DUB-9240 kit. The two-piece assemblage consists of the DUB-1210 wireless USB adapter and the DUB-2240 four-port wireless USB hub, and together they enable your machine to connect to USB peripherals sans wires. The unit promises to function within a 30-foot range, and operates on a frequency range of 3.4GHz to 4.5GHz in order to not interfere with any surrounding WiFi signals. Additionally, up to three more DUB-2240s can be connected to the first for a wireless USB overload blowout, and you'll have plenty of time to dream up such a setup while waiting for these to ship in Q4 for $119.99 apiece, or $219.99 for the pair.

[Thanks, Allen]

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 24th 2007 11:06AM]

If it was anybody else but D-Link.

Sorry, multiple bad experiences.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 24th 2007 11:23AM]

Might you be able to connect a traditional USB hub to the wireless USB hub and save yourself the $120 of buying a second one?

[Kurian @ Jul 24th 2007 11:30AM]

Unless they've specifically removed USB tree support from the controller, because the USB protocol allows a total of 127 devices in a tree formation.

Time to sue and become famous...

[Ricky @ Jul 24th 2007 12:16PM]

The website actually recommends that you do this (http://www.dlink.com/products/?model=DUB-9240):

"EASY AS STANDARD USB
This kit includes a Quick Setup Wizard so that you can easily connect to your USB peripherals wirelessly. The Wireless USB Kit is expandable. If you need to connect more than four USB devices, you can attach a wired USB hub to the DUB-2240."

[Jonathan Keim @ Jul 24th 2007 11:39AM]

Differences between Bluetooth and Wireless USB The most obvious difference between Bluetooth and Wireless USB is the speed - empirically you will generally always see speeds less than 1 Mbps with Bluetooth. Wireless USB, on the other hand, is rated for 480 Mbps at 5 meters. Both technologies are slower at further distances, but Wireless USB should always be faster than Bluetooth. Another obvious difference between Bluetooth and Wireless USB is security - Bluetooth devices are highly susceptible to signal-hijacking wheras the security standard for WUSB is very strict and should result in a much more secure connection - this is very important for any application which may require the transfer of sensitive data or information.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 24th 2007 12:25PM]

Hey, good info there!

I myself wondered about that.

[Marshall @ Jul 24th 2007 1:05PM]

Wireless USB Kit + XBox 360 Wired Guitar + Duct tape = $300 wireless guitar

[ericlaw02 @ Jul 24th 2007 1:24PM]

What happens if you plug the DUB-1210 wireless USB adapter in the DUB-2240 four-port wireless USB hub?

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 24th 2007 1:49PM]

Nothing Doctor Who couldn't fix, but I still wouldn't try it.

[Tom @ Jul 24th 2007 2:48PM]

still need wires to connect the devices...and the hub means you have to have all 4 devices close to the hub or use long wires...which the "wireless" is trying to eliminate. it eliminated only ONE wire...to your computer. not worth the money. you still want probably want your video camera near your computer or your harddrive...so that means you gotta keep everything else near it...at which point there's no point to eliminate the one wire to your computer... unless you're SUPER lazy and have a laptop that you move around everyday then just plug in power and you're set. otherwise no problem keeping the usb cable to your computer.

wondering why they can't simply make thumb drive size wireless usb adapters (device plug) that simply stick into stuff and transmit back to a hub or a computer/card...

then you can put a printer in another room or do whatever.

[Some Guy @ Jul 25th 2007 7:30PM]

Because the cost of the hub chipset is infinitesimal compared to the cost of the WUSB chipset right now.

Would you rather have a $200 dongle that only supports one device, or a $200 dongle that at least already includes the option to plug in 4?

[By the way, for anyone with the 'I want to put the fax/printer combo in another room' problem who doesn't mind Bluetooth speeds, Ambicom has made some interesting offerings -- http://www.ambicom.com/products/air2net/wbpkit.html , for instance. I have an earlier version where the printer dongle is the Bluetooth master and 'polls' for new computers in the area; the downside is that this simulates a hotplug disconnect and reconnect event every few minutes, which interferes with sleep mode on certain computers, like the original PowerPC Mac Mini.]

[Tom @ Jul 25th 2007 9:55PM]

Yea, true...but I think technology is there. There are those nifty usb/bluetooth adapters so one has to wonder... oh and here's another one.... the usb thumb drives, I got a 1gb one for $5 at Staples. They were practically giving them away after these rebates and coupons. To think that someone can still make a profit off that even at $5 (I'm sure they weren't losing money on them) really makes you wonder sometimes. JUST like when you buy an Mac computer and look at the ram upgrade for $500 ... or just go to newegg and get it for nearly half the cost. I think they can ultimately make their way to a little thumb drive-esque looking/size adapter. Then I'll jump on the wireless bandwagon.. oh crap I that reminds me - replace batteries in wireless mouse.

[Some Guy Again @ Jul 26th 2007 2:53PM]

Okay, if we're making a thread out of this -- another thing to keep in mind is that the transceiver on the device end needs power, and USB provides power unidirectionally; until peripherals appear with *integrated* WUSB, if anything the WUSB dongle is responsible for powering the device. (Note that some manufacturers, *cough*HP*cough*, have happily produced giant multifunction devices with massive power supplies that nonetheless do not function reliably without enough current coming in through the USB port. Of course, this is only really apparent with that early crop of Socket 7 machines that didn't provide the full 500ma off the motherboard ports.)

So.. let's see, just like with the Ambicom Bluetooth unit, you need a wall-wart, or at least a battery, hanging off your lithe USB-stick-like device. After suffering a spate of USB B connectors broken from the weight of cables alone -- that plastic support in the center becomes very brittle as the plastic ages, no wonder the miniature 5-pin connectors are taking off so fast -- I'm not very enthused.

A hub, meanwhile, sits on the desk, providing a logical place to insert the power needed to run both the transceiver and your peripherals. And if your peripheral happens to use a miniature 5-pin connector, or isn't even a peripheral -- like a USB charger for a cellphone that you might want to leave next to your multifunction fax -- chances there's a male A connector on their cables.

Finally, lest we forget, Belkin is in the cable business, and to use a hub, it's true, you do need to... buy USB cables. Which will help clear out their stock for the day when WUSB peripherals and cheap, coin-cell powered dongles do become reality and render the wires nearly obsolete.

[Tony A. @ Jul 30th 2007 5:50PM]

It's no fun having a second AC plug to power the wireless device. Maybe a small attachment could steal power from the existing AC plug for the printer, etc. Still kind of ugly...

[Chris @ Aug 7th 2007 12:16AM]

I found this http://www.wirelessnetdesignline.com/howto/181501657