Hey guys,

I often find myself using more than 8 cameras, sometimes up to 12 or 14, but it always requires a usage of a secondary or even third Laptop, as my PCI slots are already taken what prevents me from adding more USB controllers.

So, wouldn't a fairly cheap piece of hardware like this one - http://www.ebay.com/itm/3in1-6-Ports-Hu ... SwPcVVrFc7 - solve a lot of problems? Seems fairly logical to connect your PC to the Hub over a fast 1000 Mbit connection which can then handle dozens of cameras at once? No more frame drops or fails or cameras not being registered at the startup?

What do you guys think?

USB 3.0 is 5GB, 5 times as fast as GB Ethernet!

Good point! And Gbit Ethernet has only 2 times wider bandwidth than USB 2.0. So considering bandwidth, it's 4 cameras at max (at 60 fps).
However, as it contains only single USB 3.0 chip, it can handle 2 cameras at max actually.

Moreover, to work with connected cameras on PC, the hub should have some special drivers which implement communication with cameras over network instead of simple USB cable connection. I do not think such hub has these drivers, especially given its low price.
I suppose, it is only suitable for connecting HDD/flash drives and acts as a network storage.

Okay, I was aware that USB 3.0 are fast, but to be 5 times faster than Ethernet cable... I've been living in a cave, sorry.