StarTech 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB 7-Port USB 3.2 Gen 1 Hub with Individual Port Switches

Overview

The StarTech 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB is a powered 7-port USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub built for workstations, lab benches, and security operations centers where you need to connect multiple USB peripherals without hunting for power or toggling devices through software. Each of the seven USB Type-A downstream ports delivers up to 5 Gbps throughput and can be switched off independently — useful when you want to cut power to a specific device without unplugging cables or rebooting the host. The hub connects to the host system via a USB Type-B port with a 3.3 ft (1 m) cable, keeping the unit off-desk or mounted within easy reach of a tower workstation or NVR server. If you frequently search for it, the 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB is also commonly listed as 5G7AS USB A HUB.

For integrators running USB expansion solutions at security workstations or field-deployment staging desks, this hub addresses the two most common pain points: insufficient power for multiple bus-powered drives and no way to cycle a single device without affecting the rest. The included AC adapter handles both cleanly.

Key Features

• USB 3.2 Gen 1 at 5 Gbps across all seven ports: Every downstream port runs at full USB 3.2 Gen 1 speed — not a shared bus split across the hub. Transferring large video archives, firmware images, or forensic disk clones over USB 3.x storage devices will not bottleneck at the hub's interface. The host connection uses a standard USB Type-B port, compatible with any USB 3.x Type-A or Type-C host via the appropriate cable.
• Individual per-port on/off switches: Each of the seven ports has a dedicated toggle switch. In practice, this means you can power-cycle a USB-attached storage device, reset a misbehaving reader, or cut power to a device under configuration without touching the other six. On a busy security ops desk with a mix of always-on and occasionally-used peripherals, this eliminates a lot of unnecessary unplugging.
• 35W total USB power output from a dedicated AC adapter: The included AC adapter supplies 5V DC at 7A — that is 35W available across all ports combined. Compared to bus-powered hubs that draw from the host's limited USB budget (typically 4.5W–9W total), this hub can run multiple bus-powered storage drives simultaneously without hitting the host's current ceiling. No need to add a separate powered hub or external power injector.
• BC 1.2 charging at 1.5A / 7.5W per port: Ports support Battery Charging specification 1.2, which means compatible mobile devices and accessories charge at 1.5A (7.5W) rather than the 0.5A USB default. If your deployment includes tablets, handheld scanners, or body-worn camera accessories that charge via USB, this is meaningful — faster charge rates without a separate charging station.
• Universal AC input (110V–240V AC): The AC adapter accepts 110V to 240V input, so the hub deploys in North American, European, and international installations without a voltage converter. For integrators staging equipment across different facility types or shipping units internationally, this removes a procurement variable.
• Compact form factor at 3.7 x 2.4 x 0.9 in and 2.9 oz: The unit is small enough to sit on a desk edge or mount behind a monitor arm without adding clutter. At under 3 oz for the hub body itself, it is not adding meaningful weight to any surface mount arrangement. The black plastic enclosure fits neutrally in most workstation environments.
• Operating range of 5°C to 50°C: Rated for standard indoor commercial environments. This is not a hardened industrial device — keep it in a conditioned equipment room or at a staffed workstation, not in an outdoor enclosure or unventilated cabinet that runs hot.

Integration and Compatibility

The 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB connects to any USB 3.x host using the standard USB Type-B port. It is backward-compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices — those devices will operate at their native speeds, not at 5 Gbps, but they will still draw power from the hub's AC supply rather than from the host. This matters if you are mixing high-speed storage with legacy USB 2.0 peripherals like certain card readers or barcode scanners used in access control enrollment stations.

The hub does not require driver installation on Windows, macOS, or Linux hosts that support standard USB hub class devices. For integrators deploying this alongside network video recorders with USB ports — for backup drives, license dongles, or USB LTE modems — the plug-and-play operation avoids software configuration overhead. Review your NVR's USB power output spec before relying on it to power multiple drives; this hub's dedicated supply resolves that concern entirely.

For workstations running VMS client software and connecting USB devices like signature pads, smart card readers, or direct-attach storage, pairing this hub with a USB expansion solution keeps all peripherals on a single clean cable run to the host. Consult your USB connectivity guide if you are unsure whether your host's USB controller will enumerate all seven ports correctly under heavy concurrent load.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB require a separate power supply, or does it draw power from the host?

A: It requires the included AC adapter (5V DC, 7A). It is a powered hub — it does not draw peripheral power from the host. This is essential for running multiple bus-powered USB storage drives or charging accessories simultaneously without tripping the host's USB current limits.

Q: What is the total power budget across all seven ports?

A: The hub delivers 35W total across its seven USB Type-A ports (5V DC at 7A from the AC adapter). Per-port BC 1.2 charging supports up to 1.5A (7.5W) per port for compatible devices. Distribute load across ports — do not assume all seven can simultaneously deliver maximum charging current if total draw approaches 35W.

Q: Is the 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices?

A: Yes. USB 3.2 Gen 1 is backward-compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices. Those devices will operate at their native speeds (not 5 Gbps), but they will still benefit from the hub's AC-powered supply rather than consuming host USB power budget.

Q: What does the individual port on/off switch actually do — does it cut power, data, or both?

A: The per-port switches cut both power and data to the individual port. This allows you to power-cycle a specific device (reset a hung drive, cut power to a device under configuration) without affecting the remaining six ports or requiring a hub-level reboot.

Q: What is the warranty on the 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB?

A: StarTech covers the 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Q: Can this hub be used in an outdoor enclosure or industrial cabinet?

A: Not recommended. The operating temperature range is 5°C to 50°C and the unit carries no IP or IK environmental rating. It is designed for conditioned indoor environments — a staffed workstation, equipment room, or climate-controlled security operations center. Unventilated cabinets that run above 50°C should be avoided.

Jerry Tildsen

The detail I point integrators toward on the 5G7AS-USB-A-HUB is the power architecture: 5V DC at 7A (35W total) from a dedicated AC adapter, universal 110V–240V input. That combination means you are not fighting the host workstation's USB controller for current headroom when you need to run a backup drive, a license dongle, and a smart card reader simultaneously — a configuration that trips bus-powered hubs routinely in VMS client deployments.

Technical Highlights:

• 35W AC-powered supply: 7A at 5V DC from the included adapter eliminates host USB power budget constraints — critical when running multiple bus-powered storage devices or USB-attached accessories at the same time.
• 5 Gbps per-port throughput: USB 3.2 Gen 1 across all seven downstream ports keeps data transfer rates honest when pulling forensic copies or large video exports over USB 3.x attached storage — no shared-bus penalty at the hub interface.
• Individual port switches: Per-port hardware toggles let you power-cycle a single device — a hung storage drive, a misbehaving reader — without disrupting the other six active connections. In a live security operations environment, that matters more than it sounds.

Deployment Considerations:

• Operating temperature tops out at 50°C — verify that the installation location (equipment rack, desk shelf, cable tray) stays within that ceiling under sustained load. Enclosed racks without active cooling regularly exceed this in summer.
• The 1-meter host cable is fixed at 3.3 ft — plan hub placement relative to the workstation or NVR's USB port accordingly. Extension via active USB cable may be needed for under-desk or rack-adjacent installs where distance exceeds 1 meter.

This hub fits cleanly in a security operations workstation build where a VMS operator needs simultaneous access to a USB backup drive, smart card reader, and peripheral charger — all from a single host port, with the ability to cut any one device without service interruption to the others.