StarTech.com 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub - Metal Industrial USB-A Hub with ESD & 350W Surge Protection - Extended Operating Temp -40 to 185°F - Din Rail/Wall/Desk Mountable - USB Expander Hub

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £168 ex-VAT, this is the kind of USB hub I’d only buy when you’ve got a *proper* reason—think industrial/warehouse sites, tough cabling runs, or environments where accidental ESD hits and power surges are realistic. The metal, the mounting options, and the fact it’s designed for extended temperature use are all strong signals that StarTech built it for “stay alive in the field,” not for a typical office desk setup. If you’re plugging in things like badge readers, industrial sensors, dongles, or other peripherals that can’t afford flaky connections, it’s a sensible “reduce support calls” purchase.

That said, it’s probably not great value if your use is purely office/IT-room tidy-up. USB 2.0 hubs and a premium industrial price means you could likely do better by buying a cheaper hub for low-risk environments. Also, don’t expect miracles on bandwidth—if you’re attaching anything that behaves like a high-throughput device, you’ll hit the limits of the USB generation. My take: buy it for industrial resilience and mounting practicality; skip it if you just need an extra port for everyday desktop use.