Skip to main content

Are Your USB Ports Too Close Together? Here’s How to Fix It!


usb ports too close togetherIf you’re like me, you probably make good use of USB on your PC, from connecting keyboards and printers to smartphones, USB flash memory, Bluetooth, 3G or Wi-Fi dongles, headsets, game controllers and more.
USB is a versatile and easy-to-use connection format, but there is one thing that bugs many people (including me) about it: the inability of computer manufacturers from Apple to Lenovo, Dell to HP (short version: all of them) to correctly space the positioning of pairs of USB ports so that two devices can be connected at the same time!
However, upon investigation into this state of affairs, it seems that this inability is little more than an unnecessarily inflexible adherence to a set of agreements governing the use of USB on such devices. The result of this is that users will have to put up with the narrow gap between ports on their PCs and laptops and instead spend money on alternatives.

Typical Measurements For USB Ports

USB seems to be pretty ubiquitous, found on PCs, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, games consoles, NAS devices, set-top boxes and routers. With the advent of USB 3.0 it shows no immediate sign of going anywhere soon, but there remains this problem of the distance between port sizes failing to match the real-life situation of USB connectors being too big to sit side-by-side when connected to a laptop or PC.
The usual situation is that two USB cables can be connected concurrently, but that a cable and a USB wireless dongle (or other “fat” device) cannot be. Similarly, two “fat” devices cannot be connected together – some of the oversized USB devices might even overhang onto the neighbouring USB port.
It seems that 5 mm is between ports is common, a gap governed by the USB port hardware selected from a list of hardware by the computer’s manufacturer. There is little that can be done about this in physical terms, it would seem, other than to avoid purchasing “fat” USB devices (there is the possibility of filing down the side of the device connector, but in the case of something like a wireless dongle this might well make the peripheral useless).
Fortunately, there are workarounds that you can use to overcome this most frustrating of computing issues…

Solution #1 – Use One Port At a Time

It might not be flexible and it might be obvious, but the option to use just a single port at any time is there.
Of course, if you’re using a pair of devices that require connecting at the same time – such as a webcam and a microphone – this is going to prove difficult.
usb ports too close together
However for things like USB flash RAM and wireless dongles, this might just be the best option.

Solution #2 – Break Out The Hubs

Meanwhile, USB hubs are dirt cheap these days (although you might want to pay a little more for a decent unit) and can easily be connected to your computer. The result of this should be that you have additional ports, potentially a far preferable situation than the standard pair of ports on the side of your laptop or on the front of your PC tower.
usb ports too close
Additionally, hubs can be found in unusual places. Dell monitors often have a USB cable so that you can connect memory sticks and other devices to the computer via the monitor, while some keyboards come with built-in hubs. Printers often have USB hubs too, intended for printing directly from flash memory sticks.
One creative solution to requiring additional USB ports comes in this Instructable, explaining how to turn your mouse into a USB hub.

Solution #3 – Extender Cables

Perhaps not as cheap as a hub but potentially more flexible, extender cables often ship with wireless dongles and other hardware. Constructed with narrow connectors that can successfully sit alongside another similar connector, this solution can be used with any USB item you might have and has the added bonus of adding a few extra inches to an existing cable, something that might prove useful connecting printers,  scanners and smartphone/tablet stands.

Which Is Your Solution?

Wouldn’t it be nice if the world’s computer manufacturers got together and came to an agreement about the distance between USB ports? The thing is, of course, they’re not entirely blameless.
usb ports too close together
USB has been used as a connection form factor since 1996. USB hardware manufacturers have had more than enough time to design dongles and cables that easily sit side-by-side in computers.
All-in-all, it’s a funny state of affairs, but at least we can find solutions in the form of cables, hubs and other peripherals that might have additional USB ports.

Popular posts from this blog

How To Hide Text In Microsoft Word 2007, Reveal It & Protect It

Sometimes what we hide is more important than what we reveal. Especially, documents with sensitive information, some things are supposed to be ‘for some eyes only’. Such scenarios are quite common, even for the more un-secretive among us. You want to show someone a letter composed in MS Word, but want to keep some of the content private; or it’s an official letter with some part of it having critical data. As important as these two are, the most common use could involve a normal printing job. Many a time we have to print different versions of a document, one copy for one set of eyes and others for other sets. Rather than creating multiple copies and therefore multiple printing jobs, what if we could just do it from the same document?  That too, without the hassle of repeated cut and paste. We can, with a simple feature in MS Word – it’s just called Hidden and let me show you how to use it to hide text in Microsoft Word 2007. It’s a simple single click process. Open the docum...
1 comment
Read more

Boom, the startup that wants to build supersonic planes, just signed a massive deal with Virgin

Have you heard about Boom? Boom is a relatively new startup that’s aiming to build something pretty crazy. They’re not building an app… or a social network… or even some new gadget for the Kickstarter crowd. Boom wants to build planes. Really, really, really fast planes. Specifically, they’re trying to design and build a supersonic passenger plane that goes 2.2x the speed of sound. If all goes to plan, they’ll be able to shuttle people from New York to London in 3.5 hours, and SF to Tokyo in 4.5. Sound crazy? I wouldn’t disagree. It’s worth noting that the company is in the very early days for something as intensive, massive, and hugely expensive as designing and producing a passenger aircraft. They’re still working on their first prototype, and hope to fly it by late next year. But it’s also worth noting that the team behind the plane has some serious talent in its blood: the company’s 11 employees have collectively contributed to over 30 aircrafts — having worked on thin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fun Tools to Translate Your Name into Japanese Calligraphy

Japanese calligraphy is an artistic writing style of the Japanese language. Its Chinese origins can be traced back to the twenty-eighth century BCE. Calligraphy found its way into Japanese culture in 600 CE and is known as the karayo tradition. For Westerners, calligraphy is forever fascinating. However, it takes years to learn how to properly draw the signs. Two basic principles must be known to understand Japanese writing: there are different writing styles and different alphabets. Kaisho for example, is a writing style most commonly used in print media. Tensho on the other hand is used in signatures. Other writing styles are Reisho, Gyosho and Sousho. The alphabets include Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana. Katakana is used for writing foreign words. It can also serve to highlight words, in analogy to capital letters as we know them from the Roman / Latin alphabet (Romaji in Japanese). Each Kanji character has a meaning of its own, while Hiragana or Katakana characters merely repres...
Post a Comment
Read more