Hissing 3com hub

[Pete]

I have a 3com OfficeConnect Dual Speed 8-port hub - a few years old now -
which has recently started producing a loud hissing noise, and occasionally
a high-pitched squealing noise to boot. However, it still seems to work okay
(touchwood). Is it about to pop a capacitor or something? We used to turn it
off every night, but now that we have broadband at last, it gets left on all
the time - has this change in habits upset it?
Oh, and it's definitely the hub that's being noisy, not its power supply.

Cheers!

Pete

 

[rcm]

What a strange problem! I never heard of this one. Hubs are so passive I
would never expect your symptoms. 3Com is a good brand, the Officeconnect
series good too.

Did you have any power surges or lightning strikes? Anything else in the
house acting weird lately? Perhaps you should check the AC outlet where it
is plugged in to make sure it has the correct AC voltage (what else is
plugged in there?)

The good news is that replacing the hub is cheap, simple to do, a real plug
and play 5 minute job. (As long as you don't have it on a shelf in the
ceiling of the furnace room like I do ... )

I think it will need to be replaced. I don't think it is a fire hazard if
it should pop but you might want to consider that risk depending on where it
is located. (My 8 Port Linksys Router/Hub is in the furnace room, natural
gas, so I would be concerned if you have a similar location.)

I have the Linksys 8 port router/hub, had a 4 port before, no problems.
Since you only need a hub, read some reviews on a replacement and watch the
sales flyers if you think you have time to consider them. 3Com has been a
good brand but so many brand names sell cheap crap today that I would
definitely read reviews of the

 

[Pete]

3Com is a good brand, the Officeconnect series good too.

Yeah, I've never had problems with them before - I mostly use 3com NICs, and
they're pretty good.

Did you have any power surges or lightning strikes? Anything else in the
house acting weird lately?

Nope, not really, unless you count my parents!

Perhaps you should check the AC outlet where it
is plugged in to make sure it has the correct AC voltage (what else is
plugged in there?)

Well, nothing's changed really, except I had a Linux server up there
alongside it (it's on a shelf above the door) which I've took down before it
started hissing, and haven't bothered putting back up again yet.

The good news is that replacing the hub is cheap, simple to do, a real plug
and play 5 minute job. (As long as you don't have it on a shelf in the
ceiling of the furnace room like I do ... )

Yeah, I've no worries about that - will probably replace it with a 3com
Officeconnect switch, if I can find the £50 required. I still want to use
the hub elsewhere, though, so it'd be nice if I can fix it - the hissing is
really getting on my nerves now!

I think it will need to be replaced. I don't think it is a fire hazard if
it should pop but you might want to consider that risk depending on where it
is located. (My 8 Port Linksys Router/Hub is in the furnace room, natural
gas, so I would be concerned if you have a similar location.)

This one's linked to the router on the other side of the house, plus cables
going to all sorts of other rooms. Health & saftey isn't a factor, really.

If and when I get a switch, I'll either send it back to 3com or try and
prise it open to see if I can see a likely cause. I really suck at
soldering, but, well...

Thanks for your response.

-Pete