Vention USB B to USB 3.0 X7 HUB with Individual Power Switches and DC 5.5mm Power Adapter (CHXBO-UK)

The Vention USB B to USB 3.0 X7 HUB (CHXBO-UK) provides seven independently controlled USB 3.0 ports for students and professionals managing multiple peripherals simultaneously. This powered hub features individual on/off switches for each port, eliminating the need to physically unplug devices when not in use and preventing power drain from idle peripherals. The included DC power adapter ensures stable operation with power-hungry devices like external hard drives and charging smartphones without overwhelming your computer’s USB capacity.

Key Features & Benefits

• 7 Independent USB 3.0 Ports: Connect keyboard, mouse, external drives, webcam, printer, phone charger, and flash drive simultaneously without juggling connections or sacrificing transfer speeds
• Individual Port Power Switches: Toggle each port on or off independently to conserve power, prevent unauthorized device access, or reboot misbehaving peripherals without unplugging cables or affecting other connected devices
• 5Gbps Transfer Speed Per Port: Transfer large video projects, photo libraries, and document backups at full USB 3.0 speeds up to 5Gbps without bottlenecks when multiple devices operate simultaneously
• External Power Adapter Included: The DC 5.5mm power supply delivers sufficient current to charge tablets, power multiple external hard drives, and run high-consumption USB devices that bus-powered hubs cannot support
• USB-B Upstream Connection: The industry-standard USB-B input port ensures compatibility with replacement cables and prevents accidental disconnection compared to permanently attached cables that can break at connection points

Technical Specifications

USB Performance

• USB Standard: USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed)
• Data Transfer Rate: Up to 5Gbps per port
• Total Ports: 7× USB 3.0 Type-A female outputs
• Upstream Port: 1× USB 3.0 Type-B female input
• Backward Compatibility: USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices supported
• Chipset: VL817 or similar (enterprise-grade hub controller)

Power Specifications

• External Power Input: DC 12V via 5.5mm barrel connector
• Power Adapter: 12V/3A (36W total capacity)
• Power Output per Port: Up to 2A per port when externally powered
• Bus Power Mode: 900mA total when operating without external adapter (not recommended)
• UK Power Adapter: Included (BS 1363 three-pin plug)

Physical Specifications

• Model Number: CHXBO-UK
• Dimensions: Approximately 160mm × 65mm × 25mm
• Weight: 180g (hub only, excluding adapter)
• Material: ABS plastic housing with aluminum alloy panel
• Color: Black with silver accents
• Cable Requirement: USB-B to USB-A cable (typically sold separately)

Port Layout & Controls

• Port Arrangement: 7 ports aligned horizontally
• Individual Switches: Blue LED illuminated toggle switches per port
• Power Indicator: Main power LED showing hub status
• Switch Type: Mechanical rocker switches with tactile feedback
• Port Spacing: 15mm center-to-center (accommodates standard USB connectors)

Compatibility

• Operating Systems: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, macOS 10.6+, Linux, Chrome OS
• Device Support: External drives, keyboards, mice, webcams, printers, scanners, smartphones, tablets, USB microphones
• Hot-Swap: Yes (devices can be connected/disconnected while powered)
• Plug-and-Play: Yes (no driver installation required)

Environmental

• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
• Storage Temperature: -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F)
• Humidity: 10% to 85% non-condensing
• Ventilation: Passive cooling with ventilation slots

Use Cases & Applications

For Students

Desktop computer setups in dorm rooms and student apartments typically provide only two to four USB ports, insufficient for modern peripheral requirements. The Vention 7-port hub connects all necessary devices simultaneously—wireless keyboard and mouse dongles, external backup drive, phone charger, webcam for online classes, USB microphone for recordings, and flash drives for file transfers—without daily reconnection hassles.

Individual power switches prove invaluable during online exams and video lectures. Turn off USB microphone ports to eliminate accidental background noise during important calls, or disable external drive ports to prevent distracting notification sounds when devices spin up. The switches also extend device lifespan by powering down external hard drives overnight rather than running them continuously.

Shared computer labs benefit from this hub’s security applications. Students working on sensitive projects can switch off unused ports, preventing roommates or lab partners from plugging in unauthorized USB drives that might contain malware or copy protected files. The physical switches provide visible confirmation that ports remain disabled.

For Business Professionals

Home office workstations require simultaneous connections to multiple business peripherals—external monitors via USB display adapters, document scanners, label printers, signature pads, card readers, and backup drives. The Vention hub consolidates these connections through a single upstream link to laptops or desktop computers, creating organized workspaces without cable management chaos.

Professionals conducting frequent video conferences appreciate individual port control for quickly disabling webcams and microphones between meetings, providing privacy assurance superior to software-only controls. The visible blue LED indicators confirm which devices draw power, preventing accidental “camera on” situations during breaks.

Remote workers managing multiple client projects use port switches to physically isolate project-specific external drives, ensuring data from different clients never mixes accidentally. Switch on only the drive containing relevant project files while keeping other client data powered down and secure.

General Applications

• Content Creation: Connect multiple external SSDs for video editing—active footage drive, proxy cache drive, and backup drive—with individual switches preventing accidental write operations to archived projects
• 3D Printing: Power printer control boards, webcams for print monitoring, and USB lighting simultaneously with ability to reboot printer connections without affecting other devices
• Photography Workflows: Attach multiple card readers for different camera systems alongside external editing drives and backup storage, switching ports based on active shooting formats
• Music Production: Connect MIDI controllers, audio interfaces, USB microphones, and external sample libraries with individual power control preventing ground loop interference
• Software Development: Link multiple development boards, programming cables, logic analyzers, and test devices with switches enabling quick device resets without cable removal
• Small Office Networks: Share USB printers, scanners, and storage devices across multiple workstations using USB network sharing devices connected through hub ports
• Gaming Peripherals: Connect keyboards, mice, headset adapters, stream decks, racing wheels, and flight sticks with switches preventing phantom inputs from idle controllers
• Cryptocurrency Mining: Power multiple USB ASIC miners or hardware wallets with individual monitoring and control capabilities

Power Management and Device Support: The included 12V/3A power adapter provides 36W total capacity, sufficient for seven ports drawing up to 2A each under typical use. However, actual current distribution depends on connected device requirements. Three external hard drives drawing 1.5A each (4.5A total) alongside four low-power devices (keyboard, mouse, flash drives at 0.5A combined) totals 5A—within the adapter’s capacity with comfortable headroom.

For maximum power-hungry configurations—charging tablets, powering multiple external drives, and running high-consumption peripherals simultaneously—verify total current draw remains below 3A to prevent overloading. The hub’s intelligent power management typically prevents overload by limiting current to protected levels, though this may cause some devices to underperform if power proves insufficient.

USB-B Connection Advantage: Unlike hubs with permanently attached USB cables that break at stress points after months of use, the USB-B upstream port accepts standard USB-B to USB-A cables. Replace damaged cables easily without discarding the entire hub. This design also allows users to select cable lengths matching their specific installations—short 0.5-meter cables for desktop setups or longer 2-meter cables for floor-mounted computers.

The USB-B connector’s rectangular shape and asymmetric design prevents accidental disconnection better than USB-C’s reversible design, making it ideal for permanent workstation installations where connection stability matters more than convenience.

Individual Switch Benefits: Physical port switches offer advantages beyond simple on/off control. Restart misbehaving USB devices by toggling their switches without disconnecting cables—particularly useful for external drives that occasionally lock up or webcams experiencing driver issues. This approach proves faster and more reliable than software-based device ejection.

Security-conscious users appreciate physical disconnect capabilities. Toggle off ports connected to external storage when not actively transferring files, preventing malware from accessing backup drives. Unlike software controls that malicious code can override, physical switches provide absolute disconnection between host computer and peripheral devices.

The illuminated blue LED switches provide instant visual confirmation of port status across the room. Glance at the hub to verify which devices draw power without checking device manager software or physically touching peripherals to feel for warmth or vibration.

Performance Considerations: USB 3.0’s 5Gbps bandwidth applies to each port independently when connected devices operate simultaneously. However, all seven ports share the single upstream USB 3.0 connection to the host computer. Transferring large files across multiple external drives simultaneously aggregates bandwidth demand, potentially saturating the upstream connection and reducing individual transfer speeds.

For typical use—active transfers on one or two drives while other ports service keyboards, mice, and idle peripherals—performance remains excellent. When conducting multiple simultaneous large transfers, such as backing up three external drives concurrently, expect individual transfer speeds to decrease proportionally as available bandwidth divides among active devices.

Installation and Setup: Position the hub near frequently accessed ports for convenient switch operation. The 160mm length accommodates seven ports with 15mm spacing, sufficient for standard USB connectors but potentially tight when connecting devices with wide molded connectors. Some devices with unusually large USB housings may block adjacent ports—alternate between such devices and standard connectors to maximize port utilization.

Connect the DC power adapter before attaching the USB-B cable to your computer. This sequence ensures the hub receives adequate power during enumeration, preventing initialization issues that sometimes occur when hubs enumerate under bus power then switch to external power.

Cable Selection: Purchase a USB 3.0 certified USB-B to USB-A cable separately, as these typically aren’t included. Cable length depends on your workspace layout—0.5 to 1 meter suits desktop configurations with tower computers nearby, while 2 to 3 meters accommodates floor-mounted computers or cable routing through desk cable management systems.

Verify cables carry USB 3.0 certification (look for blue internal connectors or “SS” markings). USB 2.0 cables physically fit USB-B ports but limit all hub ports to 480Mbps regardless of the hub’s USB 3.0 capabilities, severely restricting external drive performance.

When This Hub Excels: The Vention CHXBO-UK suits permanent or semi-permanent desktop installations requiring many peripherals with individual control needs. Students establishing dorm room workstations, professionals creating home offices, or content creators building editing rigs benefit most from the seven-port capacity and power management features.

For portable use or situations requiring only three to four ports, smaller bus-powered hubs without individual switches provide more convenient travel options. However, for power users managing extensive peripheral collections who value control and sufficient power delivery, this hub’s feature set justifies the larger footprint and external adapter requirement.

The individual switches, external power supply, and seven-port capacity make the Vention CHXBO-UK particularly valuable for technical users who understand the benefits of granular device control and require reliable high-power USB connectivity across numerous peripherals simultaneously.