Why has there never been 3.5" drive-bay-mounted USB-2 passthroughconnector?

This is a photo of a drive-bay panel-mounted passthrough USB-3
connector:

==================
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

USB 3.0 3.5 inch Front Panel with 2 USB 3.0 Ports Hub [20 Pin Connector
& 2ft Adapter Cable]
==================

I'm told that these USB-3 bay-mounted connectors became available as
soon as the 20-pin connectors were standardized.

For years I've been looking for something similar for USB-2, but have
never seen one.

Can anyone explain why nobody has ever made one?

The answer can't be because they weren't needed, because obviously the
exact same use-case and retail market situation exists for a product
like this for both the USB-2 and USB-3 formats.

In fact, I'd like to see a 4-port USB-2 version.

Two or 3 times I've made my own, by taking a bracket-mounted USB-2
connector and removing it from the bracket and mounting it to a blank
3.5" front-panel bezel with a rectangular hole cut into it. I shouldn't
have had to resort to making such an obviously useful accessory in this
day and age where all manner of accessories (from useful to ridiculous)
exist for desktop and tower computers.

16.7.2014 18:04, PC Guy kirjoitti:
This is a photo of a drive-bay panel-mounted passthrough USB-3
connector:

==================
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

USB 3.0 3.5 inch Front Panel with 2 USB 3.0 Ports Hub [20 Pin Connector
& 2ft Adapter Cable]
==================

I'm told that these USB-3 bay-mounted connectors became available as
soon as the 20-pin connectors were standardized.

For years I've been looking for something similar for USB-2, but have
never seen one.

Can anyone explain why nobody has ever made one?

The answer can't be because they weren't needed, because obviously the
exact same use-case and retail market situation exists for a product
like this for both the USB-2 and USB-3 formats.

In fact, I'd like to see a 4-port USB-2 version.

Two or 3 times I've made my own, by taking a bracket-mounted USB-2
connector and removing it from the bracket and mounting it to a blank
3.5" front-panel bezel with a rectangular hole cut into it. I shouldn't
have had to resort to making such an obviously useful accessory in this
day and age where all manner of accessories (from useful to ridiculous)
exist for desktop and tower computers.



Did you even try a search??
try this search

usb 2 4-port front panel

and you'll get a "few" results (like 4.3M)..

The SYBASD-U2HUB-4 from Newegg is out of Stock, but Amazon UK has a few
"LogiLink Front Panel USB 2.0 4 Port Hub - Black/Silver"

I'm sure there's more available, but I didn't more than scan the first
page..


--
-----------------------------------------------------
Thomas Wendell
Helsinki, Finland
Translation to/from FI/SWE not always accurate
-----------------------------------------------------

tumppiw wrote:
16.7.2014 18:04, PC Guy kirjoitti:
This is a photo of a drive-bay panel-mounted passthrough USB-3
connector:

==================
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

USB 3.0 3.5 inch Front Panel with 2 USB 3.0 Ports Hub [20 Pin Connector
& 2ft Adapter Cable]
==================

I'm told that these USB-3 bay-mounted connectors became available as
soon as the 20-pin connectors were standardized.

For years I've been looking for something similar for USB-2, but have
never seen one.

Can anyone explain why nobody has ever made one?

The answer can't be because they weren't needed, because obviously the
exact same use-case and retail market situation exists for a product
like this for both the USB-2 and USB-3 formats.

In fact, I'd like to see a 4-port USB-2 version.

Two or 3 times I've made my own, by taking a bracket-mounted USB-2
connector and removing it from the bracket and mounting it to a blank
3.5" front-panel bezel with a rectangular hole cut into it. I shouldn't
have had to resort to making such an obviously useful accessory in this
day and age where all manner of accessories (from useful to ridiculous)
exist for desktop and tower computers.



Did you even try a search??
try this search

usb 2 4-port front panel

and you'll get a "few" results (like 4.3M)..

The SYBASD-U2HUB-4 from Newegg is out of Stock, but Amazon UK has a few
"LogiLink Front Panel USB 2.0 4 Port Hub - Black/Silver"

I'm sure there's more available, but I didn't more than scan the first
page..

There is one here. But the lead dress isn't very good. That's the thing
about these, is you can find them, but you really have to search hard
to find good ones.

http://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapte...B~35BAYPANELHD

Paul

tumppiw wrote:

drive-bay panel-mounted passthrough USB-3 connector

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

For years I've been looking for something similar for USB-2, but
have never seen one.

Did you even try a search??

Yes

try this search

usb 2 4-port front panel
and you'll get a "few" results (like 4.3M)..

The SYBASD-U2HUB-4 from Newegg is out of Stock

What you found was a USB HUB.

A USB hub has electronics inside it. It requires power.

Take a better look at this pictu

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

Do you see how that is NOT A HUB?

It is simply a pair of USB connectors attached to a cable that connects
to the USB connectors on the motherboard. That is a picture of a USB-3
version of what I am looking for. I am looking for a USB-2 version.

I am NOT looking for a 3.5" drive-bay-mounted USB-2 hub.

Paul wrote:

There is one here.

http://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/med...NELHD.main.jpg

But the lead dress isn't very good. That's the thing about these,
is you can find them, but you really have to search hard to find
good ones.

There isin't necessarily anything wrong with how they have those leads
arranged in your example.

If you are looking for a front-panel connector solution for ALL those
various connections, then you will end up with what looks like a mess of
leads coming from the panel.

But yes - you have found one example of what I'm looking for, but to
nit-pick - I'm not looking for such a panel with all those other various
connectors (and the cost that goes with them). The cost of that
Startech item (cheapest I've found) is $28.

What I have been able to find are a lot of these:

http://m4.sourcingmap.com/photo_new/...x0042_ux_c.jpg

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/1...otherboard.jpg

http://pc-maestro.ie/wp-content/uplo...USBMBADAPT.png

Which I can't figure out why those would be so popular, given they are
not a complete (ready-to-use) solution. Going the extra step to mold
them into a 3.5" drive-bay mounting frame would be a no-brainer, yet
none seem to exist.

And naturally there are these (bracket-mounted):

http://www.dhresource.com/albu_33691...b-2-buffer.jpg

PC Guy wrote:

A USB hub has electronics inside it. It requires power.

Take a better look at this pictu

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

Do you see how that is NOT A HUB?

It is simply a pair of USB connectors attached to a cable that
connects to the USB connectors on the motherboard. That is a picture
of a USB-3 version of what I am looking for. I am looking for a
USB-2 version.

I am NOT looking for a 3.5" drive-bay-mounted USB-2 hub.

Some hubs REQUIRE power; others work fine without power, but at the
restricted USB power levels.

Find a hub that works as a pass-through when no power is connected.

On 7/17/2014 5:17 AM, tumppiw wrote:
16.7.2014 18:04, PC Guy kirjoitti:
This is a photo of a drive-bay panel-mounted passthrough USB-3
connector:

==================
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

USB 3.0 3.5 inch Front Panel with 2 USB 3.0 Ports Hub [20 Pin Connector
& 2ft Adapter Cable]
==================

I'm told that these USB-3 bay-mounted connectors became available as
soon as the 20-pin connectors were standardized.

For years I've been looking for something similar for USB-2, but have
never seen one.

Can anyone explain why nobody has ever made one?

The answer can't be because they weren't needed, because obviously the
exact same use-case and retail market situation exists for a product
like this for both the USB-2 and USB-3 formats.

In fact, I'd like to see a 4-port USB-2 version.

Two or 3 times I've made my own, by taking a bracket-mounted USB-2
connector and removing it from the bracket and mounting it to a blank
3.5" front-panel bezel with a rectangular hole cut into it. I shouldn't
have had to resort to making such an obviously useful accessory in this
day and age where all manner of accessories (from useful to ridiculous)
exist for desktop and tower computers.



Did you even try a search??
try this search

usb 2 4-port front panel

and you'll get a "few" results (like 4.3M)..

The SYBASD-U2HUB-4 from Newegg is out of Stock, but Amazon UK has a few
"LogiLink Front Panel USB 2.0 4 Port Hub - Black/Silver"

I'm sure there's more available, but I didn't more than scan the first
page..




https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...+4-port+USB-2+

Al Drake wrote:
On 7/17/2014 5:17 AM, tumppiw wrote:
16.7.2014 18:04, PC Guy kirjoitti:
This is a photo of a drive-bay panel-mounted passthrough USB-3
connector:

==================
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX425_.jpg

USB 3.0 3.5 inch Front Panel with 2 USB 3.0 Ports Hub [20 Pin Connector
& 2ft Adapter Cable]
==================

I'm told that these USB-3 bay-mounted connectors became available as
soon as the 20-pin connectors were standardized.

For years I've been looking for something similar for USB-2, but have
never seen one.

Can anyone explain why nobody has ever made one?

The answer can't be because they weren't needed, because obviously the
exact same use-case and retail market situation exists for a product
like this for both the USB-2 and USB-3 formats.

In fact, I'd like to see a 4-port USB-2 version.

Two or 3 times I've made my own, by taking a bracket-mounted USB-2
connector and removing it from the bracket and mounting it to a blank
3.5" front-panel bezel with a rectangular hole cut into it. I shouldn't
have had to resort to making such an obviously useful accessory in this
day and age where all manner of accessories (from useful to ridiculous)
exist for desktop and tower computers.



Did you even try a search??
try this search

usb 2 4-port front panel

and you'll get a "few" results (like 4.3M)..

The SYBASD-U2HUB-4 from Newegg is out of Stock, but Amazon UK has a few
"LogiLink Front Panel USB 2.0 4 Port Hub - Black/Silver"

I'm sure there's more available, but I didn't more than scan the first
page..




https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...+4-port+USB-2+

Some have the wrong connector and the wrong design. This one
for example, doesn't use the motherboard internal header, so
the wiring has to plug into the back of the computer. While
you can pretend this is clever, nobody is really impressed by
home wiring jobs that look like this. Nerd fail. Yes, there
are PCI USB2 cards with the external connector type, on the
inside of the PC, but the availability of those varies a lot,
and they can be hard to find when you need one.

http://www.eio.com/popup.aspx?Produc...arge/24137.gif

X----
X---- Hub (TypeB to TypeA cable
X---- Chip ------ TypeB ---X - - - - ----+ comes out through spare slot...)
X---- |
---+ (Plugs into rear port)

The OP is looking for something along the lines of a motherboard dual
set of 2x5 headers to tray interface.

X----\_____ 9 wire cable _____ 2x5 USB2 header on motherboard
X----/
X----\_____ 9 wire cable _____ 2x5 USB2 header on motherboard
X----/

(Tray) (Internal Cabling) (Mobo)

You can get that stuff on frontx.com, but at a relatively high
price. Probably $50 to make a USB tray that way. And what you're
getting for the money, is wire/pins/plastic and no silicon chip
for that $50. Mondo-profito.

Depending on a few things, the second configuration can have
better transfer performance. The "Hub Chip" concept is a bottleneck,
because USB2 is half duplex. (While USB3 is full duplex.) On USB2,
even the motherboard controllers are shared, unless you have
one of the many boards where the Southbridge has two controllers,
and you know which motherboard header is on each cluster, and
pick one from each. On my motherboard, I don't even know
where the split is, and would have to do transfer rate tests
to get the wiring right (plug and test, unplug and try again).

There are lots of nit-picky details.

Which is why it's just easier to buy a future-resistant
USB3 SD reader key. As it uses existing ports on the
machine, whatever they are (USB2 or USB3). And the reader
key concept, doesn't leave "four drive letters" for the
removable drives, sitting in your OS.

On some of my cases here, I actually tore out the
wiring, rather than spend days noodling all of this
crap out. By tearing out some of the cables, like
front panel USB, they're not hanging down and getting
in my way when doing maintenance. Several of my Antec
cases, had the mis-wired front panel stuff, which
made a destructive urge all that easier to justify.
Like the mis-wired Firewire cable. To their credit,
none of the Antec mistakes involved power wires and
connecting power wires to the wrong stuff. So
no fireworks or glowing hot wires at least. Some
companies just can't be trusted with the simplest of
things (things that would take adding one electrical
engineer to the company payroll to get this stuff right).
A cautions builder, gets out the multimeter and buzzes the
cable, as a "better safe than sorry" approach. That helps
protect that expensive Firewire camcorder from damage, when
it is first plugged in.

Paul

Paul wrote:

http://www.eio.com/popup.aspx?Produc...arge/24137.gif

Picture of a hub. Not a set of pass-through front-panel passive ports.

The OP is looking for something along the lines of a motherboard
dual set of 2x5 headers to tray interface.

Which after several posts and pictures would have been clear by now.

You can get that stuff on frontx.com, but at a relatively high
price. Probably $50 to make a USB tray that way.

And actually, from the gay set of products that frontx has, I don't even
see a way to make it.

This is the closest they seem to come:

http://frontx.com/cpx101_1_2.gif

Which requires you to feed the cable out the back of the case through an
open bracket and into one of the motherboard-mounted external USB
ports. This is lame.

Which is why it's just easier to buy a future-resistant
USB3 SD reader key.

Again, if I want to make use of my motherboards many on-board USB ports
(the ports that are not brought out through the back edge of the board
and accessible through the interface shield) then why on earth has
nobody made a god-damn simple and USEFUL item like a drive-bay mounted
panel-mount cable and connector set?

The ****ing morons figured out it would be useful for USB-3 (I've posted
pictures of that item) but for some ****ing reason not for USB-2.

Rear-panel extensions are ****ing bull**** when your PC tower case is
sitting on the floor under a desk and you have to get on your ****ING
hands and knees with a flashlight to plug in a ****ing USB thumb drive.

Honestly, can anyone say they haven't been there and done that?

We have reached the end of the era of the desktop PC with USB-2 ports,
an era that has lasted 14 years, and during all that time no ****ing
body has ever thought it would have been a good idea to bring out an
accessory drive bay product to extend internal motherboard USB-2
connectors passively to a front-panel-mounted drive-bay interface?

PC Guy wrote:


And actually, from the gay set of products that frontx has, I don't even
see a way to make it.

This is the closest they seem to come:

http://frontx.com/cpx101_1_2.gif

No, they have the right one. Including
instructions on a lot of the variants on
the 2x5 wiring pattern. Some of the older
patterns are missing here (ones with OC# perhaps).
Still, it's a relatively informative web page,
as these things go. Many sites would give you
zero info on the product, and let you figure it
out for yourself.

http://www.frontx.com/cpx108_2.html

Paul