artifact Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 As this is my first post I will just quickly say hello to everyone. I have been on these forums before and it has a great community. Now for my question. I've purchased my pineapple few weeks ago and what I am trying to do is create a device that I am able to control it via wireless. Stick it in my bag and forget about it. I've done all the necessary configuration but I have a quick question regarding my USB powered hub. I have purchased this hub. It has 7 ports rather than 4 but it's pretty much the same. I connect my pineapple to a battery powerpack through a DC cable and then connect the HUB to my pineapple via USB. What happens is that the pineapple seems to be powering the HUB and all the peripheral devices attached to it. Everything works fine. I am just wondering whether this is the correct way of doing it and can the pineapple be damaged in any way? You can see the current setup although this Linksys adapter will be replaced by Alfa. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsm0ld Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) Hello ! You are going to want to purchase a POWERED USB hub if the one you actually own does not have a power option. The one you linked has a wall power adapter but I do not see one in the picture of your gear. If your USB hub is capable of getting power from an external source cut the end off and modify it to get power from the battery pack. ***CAUTION*** make sure that your USB hub does not back feed power to the pineapple, if it does you will need to cut the red and black wires on the cable that connects the USB hut to the pineapple.*** EDIT: If you have questions on how to mod the USB cable or more info on the subject of USB and powering the pineapple have a look at this thread: http://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/27504-usb-power-wifi-pineapple/ Edited September 17, 2012 by itsm0ld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artifact Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) I've figured it out. I cut the red wire, wasnt sure if i need to cut black as well? EDIT: I've cut the black as well but now the flash drive is not detected. Is it safe to reconnect the black wire? Edited September 17, 2012 by artifact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artifact Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 I am wondering of GND is used for device detection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsm0ld Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I am wondering of GND is used for device detection. Its possible, if you reconnect the black and power the hub then plug it into the pineapple without the pineapple powered. If the pineapple starts to boot then you know you still have power going through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artifact Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 Thanks for your help. No more backfeed. So yeah looks like GND is used for device detection as well (in this case anyway)...strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loozr Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 (edited) A bit late, but yes I would vote for keeping the GND cable. As far as possible I like to keep GND in the complete circuit in any hacks I have ever done. Edited September 18, 2012 by loozr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yukondokne Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 would the hub from the hakshop be a better solution for an un-powered hub? i have a simular 4-port version of this hub that OP has, and i dont want to cut the power wire because i also use this hub for my tablet, but if the one at the hak-shop will work without modification, i have a local shop that sells them, and i dont mind picking one up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yukondokne Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 this is the hub i use http://www.microcenter.com/product/360458/4-Port_USB_20_Hub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsm0ld Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I cant comment on the hak shop one, I use this one and it doesn't require any cutting. http://www.iogear.com/product/GUH274/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yukondokne Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 yours is a powered hub - im speaking of a unpowered hub, so i use less battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsm0ld Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 yours is a powered hub - im speaking of a unpowered hub, so i use less battery. You are going to want a powered USB hub.....we see so many problems on the forum because people don't use a powered hub. Do you think the power is free if you get it through the USB port on the pineapple? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yukondokne Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 You are going to want a powered USB hub.....we see so many problems on the forum because people don't use a powered hub. Do you think the power is free if you get it through the USB port on the pineapple? so when im using my pineapple with my alfa is that not using the same princaple? all i want is to use a USB for storage+my alfa for passthrough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsm0ld Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 so when im using my pineapple with my alfa is that not using the same princaple? all i want is to use a USB for storage+my alfa for passthrough The problem is that the more items you add like your USB for storage and even a passive hub the pineapple will be unable to provide enough power for all your accessories. Rather than the pineapple shutting down it will just start to act unstable or unreliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yukondokne Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 The problem is that the more items you add like your USB for storage and even a passive hub the pineapple will be unable to provide enough power for all your accessories. Rather than the pineapple shutting down it will just start to act unstable or unreliable. so a powered hub would solve the solution of that, but could possably back-feed into my fruity baby, thus making it a very pretty paper-weight? hmm..... is there a way to safely have a small hub (2 ports is all i REALLY need) so i can have a second wifi anttena (alfa) and my USB storage? any recomendations then? i have a computer store in town that carries almost anything if i look hard enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsm0ld Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 (edited) so a powered hub would solve the solution of that, but could possably back-feed into my fruity baby, thus making it a very pretty paper-weight? hmm..... is there a way to safely have a small hub (2 ports is all i REALLY need) so i can have a second wifi anttena (alfa) and my USB storage? any recomendations then? i have a computer store in town that carries almost anything if i look hard enough... http://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/27549-usb-hub-powered-by-wifi-pineapple/#entry210154 Did you read the posts in this thread? I linked you a powered one that does not require any cutting, and a search of the forum will yield you several more.............. The difference in power consumption between a 2 port and 4 is negligible if the other 2 ports are not in use. Edited September 19, 2012 by itsm0ld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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