I need to purchase a new computer - mine just crashed on my job yesterday.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

When something stops working the way it's supposed to more than once, time for a new computer.

There was one reporter here that posted the link to a Dell laptop with all the bells and whistles she just bought.  I can't find that discussion now.  I wanted to buy what she bought but now can't find where that discussion is.  Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?

Were were talking about getting great audio with computers and what works best.

[Quyen]

Yes, mine is exactly the same as yours, Janet.  It's a self-powered hub.  I've never had to use the AC power adapter. I just plug it into my laptop with the USB cord. I've never had an issue with anything I've plugged into it.  Just the one time I plugged the Diamante into it and paused Eclipse, and I couldn't get Eclipse to read it.  I'm just guessing that is the case, but if the writer worked for you when plugged into the hub, then maybe it was something I did. It started out reading from the writer fine. Just after a pause, it stopped reading.

[Janet]

 

Hmm, I've never tried it without plugging it in.  I didn't want to use the shared power of the USB ports on the laptop.  I have the Eclipse USB key, the Diamante, a USB microphone and realtime out.  I figured that was way too much of a load to share power. 

[Quyen]

I don't know that the Eclipse USB key uses much, if any at all, power. I have three USB ports on my laptop, though. So I direct-connect my hub, writer and StenoCast (when doing RT). The hub takes my Eclipse key, wireless mouse and sometimes my phone charger.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Janet, what exactly do you have plugged into the Belkin USB ports? 

Yesterday I had my writer, key, fan into the Belkin and then my computer stopped picking up my writer feed, so maybe that's a problem.   I never had that problem before, though.  First time was yesterday.  Maybe the Diamante needs to go directly into the computer. 

Do you use your StenoCast Wireless into the Belkin hub??

[Janet]

 

I use the Belkin for Eclipse key, Diamante, and mic.  I use another USB port for my realtime out.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Wow, so the microphone will work with the Belkin?  I haven't tried that.  The scenerio that Quyen was describing is exactly what happened for me. 

I got all set up, but we didn't go on the record for another 30 minutes so there was a pause and then when we went on the record, it wrote a few lines and then just stopped and wouldn't write anymore.  The audio was still recording and everything else was working.  Very strange.  Maybe I'll switch and go Diamante direct and the microphone through the Belkin and see how that works.

[Marty E. McArver]

You've probably already thought of this...  Any time I add additional USB ports, I always check to make sure that any power-saving features are turned off. 

(Control Panel, Device Manager, Ports, then right click each listed port in order to get a menu.  Click Properties.  Then look for any power management settings -- might be under Advanced -- and make sure power management is not selected.) 

The computer, for some reason, doesn't "see" writer input -- so after a period of time, the port shuts down, if power-saving is checked, because the computer thinks the port is inactive.

That's the only thing I can think of that would explain why it works -- then after a period of time, it doesn't. 

[Quyen]

It's actually not the power to the port, because the mouse and other USB peripherals I have attached to the hub still work, just not the writer.

Also, if anyone wants to do this, you can go to the Microsoft site, and it will give you instructions on how to disable the USB power management, OR it has a little program that will actually remove the power management setting for you. I'm on Vista, but I think this works for all Windows PCs. I did that awhile back, and now my ports don't even have the "power management" tab anymore, and the ports always stay on. Here is the link to the page.  Scroll down to the section that says, "Fix it for me," and there is a download button. You download that, run it, and it will remove the power settings on your computer altogether. I don't have to worry about checking it anymore.  Click here.

Actually, it doesn't remove the "Power" tab; it removes the "power save" OPTION.  :)

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Janet told me about this Belkin hub or one like it that has its own power supply and it's great.  I use it for my writer, Eclipse key, fan so laptop doesn't overheat, thumb drive.  It has eight ports.  Way more than I need but is great to have options.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

My last Toshiba and Dell both have four USB ports.  The newer computers only have three.  Bummer.

[Quyen]

Wow, learn something new every day. I've never owned a laptop with four USB ports. Three is the max for me.

[Michele Savoy Parente]

Darn, I wish I would have thought of asking for additional ports.  Let me know if it's an option if you go the Dell route