16 cams but only 2 usb ports on the computer.

[spencer]

hello,

i am thinking of upgrading from 12 to 16 cameras.
but my laptop has only 2 usb ports.
now i am wondering how i would connect this.

please see the following image:


i assume figure A is recomended.
is it possible to set it up like that ?

and the second question.. can i put 5m active usb extender cables before the hubs ? (the black lines on the picture)
and if yes, can it only be one.. or can i put 2 extenders behind each other.

thanks!

[VincentG]

Definitely not recommended to go from 1 hub, into another hub, and then to the PC.

A better scenario would be to get a PCMCIA USB card to plug a third hub into

[filmcraft]

Is this also true for the v100 cameras? I have a laptop with 2 usb ports as well, so would the scenario be 2 usb hubs powered, and 1 pcmcia usb hub?

[VincentG]

Yes, it would also be true for the V100 cameras.

[Jim]

You should view the Devices By Connection. That is the key, you want to split the USB bandwidth load over the two EHCI ports on the PC or Laptop.

To note: Laptops and PCs have many USB ports, but only 2 Enhanced Host Controllers, what actually does the USB processing, and they are not labeled on the USB port, so you have no idea if you are dividing the load. You can tell if you are by using Arena or TT and looking at the EHCI connections, or in the Device Manager under View :Devices by Connection.

[filmcraft]

What if my laptop computer only has ONE Enhanced controller but 4 ports, is this going to be a major issue if I am using 12 cameras with 4 on each hub connect to 3 of the usb ports on the laptop?

[VincentG]

If you are going to be using all 12 through a single enhanced host controller, then you may experience some bandwidth issues. The best thing to do is give it a try.