Data Switch Box

[Kimm]

We have a data switch box,brand name "Belkin", I was wondering if this is something like a hub ? Seems like we use it because we didn't have a port to hook up a device? We have a flatbed scanner, doesn't the computers come with a hook up for that? We also have a external zip drive, maybe its used for that, can't remember. Thanks

[RWSchlatter]

Hi Kimm
Data switch boxes traditionally come in two forms, one for serial and one for parallel ports. J think recently J have also seen one for USB.

These boxes are used in two cases:
(1) you do not have enough ports (connectors) on your computer, and you do not want to add extra hardware. Then you take a switch box, connect it to one computer port and the other two (or more) ports of the switch box to your devices (say printers, modems, scanners etc). Then instead of uncabline and re-cabling you just use the switch on the box to select your device.
(2) you want to share a device between two (or more) computers. Then cabling will be the other way round, the single port to the device and the two (or more) other ports go to each computer. The switch on the box selects the computer to be connected to the device.

In any case, always only one device connected to one computer.

A hub (USB) is something where you can connect several devices and these are all available to the one computer. All devices can operate at the same time.

For a flatbed scanner, the chances are, that it is connects to a parallel port, in wich case it would have a wide (approx 2in) connector. A ZIP drive has also a good chance to be connected to the parallel port. And usually you have a printer attached to the parallel port as well.
As computers normally come only with one parallel port, this would seem to me the way to share these peripherals with a switch box.
Check: <a target="_blank" href=http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=5>http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=5</a> for more info on your switch box model.

Just to complete the discussion: a special switch box type KVM (keyboard, viedeo, mouse) lets you control several computers from one physical desktop set of keyboard, mouse and display.

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Regards - Richard

[lescooper]

A switch box is just that, it allows you to use one port for two or more devices, if you use a printer on it check that the does not need to talk to the PC all the time, if so the printer will work erratically.