I thought I would share my problems and perhaps someone can offer some help?...

I recently bought Logitech's new "Squeezebox Duet" (a network to hi-fi music player similar to an iPod in appearance). It's bloomin' superb!!! I can highly recommend it! (the internet radio and Pandora support is ace). It also integrates with iTunes.

You're also meant to 'point' the Squeezeboc to your audio file folders stored 'on the network' to stream them.

I already had a 750Gb external USB hard drive but didn't want to have to keep my computer powered on to listen to the music. I'd heard that there are various devices on the market which could 'mount' USB devices onto the network.

So!... I bought the new Belkin Network USB hub (see Network Hub)

Plugged the Belkin in only to find I needed to install software on my computer(s).

I'm pretty annoyed that it seems the hub only becomes usable when a computer is on and running the Belkin hub control software. This was not why I bought the damn thing, in fact quite the opposite. Thought it was marketed as a NAS type thing. How wrong I was.

As usual, Trevor from India wasn't too helpful on the Belkin support desk. Got cut off the call twice too!

Has anyone experience of this Belkin Network USB hub?

Can you suggest other products which will 'mount' my USB hard drive onto my home network, making them visible to all?

[Edited on 3/11/08 by The Great Fandango]

No help - but I have never come across anything with the word Belkin on it that was any good

So basicaly, its ment to be a Wireless NAS and Printserver, with built in MP3 player.

But non of that works unless you have a PC on somewhere?

Or is it just that the MP3 Player part doesnt work without the PC?

Does the product advertise what it can or cant do, ie, should it do it and it doesnt becuase its somehow not setup right? Or is it just not ment to?



We have a wired NAS at home which is great for cheaping files on for everyone (family home) which can then be accessed anywhere, including a £50 laptop we have which spends most of its life in the livingroom play MP3s off the network into the speakers downstairs.
- I have several times thought it would be cool to have a setup singles unit that would replace the laptop, but not actually researched it, interested to hear what others coe up with.

I also find it an epic fail that our panasonic hdd tv recoreder (with 350gb hdd) doesnt have a network socket eather. So the only way to extract data is dvd at a time!



Daniel

mmm, I've come across this product and was told by their tech support that it won't without the control centre being running, I remember checking the user manual that was available by download and do remember that early on in the instructions it does say if the software isn't installed it won't work, my customer took it back to pc world and told them it not fit for purpose and got a refund. You could argue that the software to install during the installation would just be for initial configuration of the device and would not be required after install.

I agree with Mooky, Belkin = unreliable products, shame really as they had a strong brand a few years ago and had some great products.

Cheers

Rich

This'll do the job nicely for you.

http://www.usbnow.co.uk/Networking/c27/p966/Storage_LAN_Bridge_for_USB_Storage_Devices/product_info.html

Thanks guys...

Basically, the unit works fine and does everything I need it to whilst a computer is on (running it's control software). Once the computer is switched off the hub is about as good as an inflatable dart board.

Think I'll take the Belkin back and invest in something like "The_FBI" suggests. Looks neat that one too!

The other day, I bought a Philips DVP5980 DVD player. This has has the usual video, audio and digital outputs plus HDMI. What I really like about it is that it also has a USB connection on the front from which I can watch films/programs copied of the computer. However my son also connects his USB hard drive straight to it and plays music on it as well as watching things that he has stored on his hard drive.

With a bit of careful shopping I bought the new unit with full guarantee for £50 from currys.

Absolutely Excellent.

Hope this helps

Either get a NAS drive or a NAS/USB Media drive.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97390
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=221173
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