I’ve been crawling under desks to access ports for decades. Many modern monitors incorporate a USB hub, but manufacturers still (inexplicably) put the ports on the underside or back of the screen. I frequently need to temporarily attach USB drives, peripherals, dongles, security keys, and more. How can I make my USB life easier with less desk clutter?
The answer comes in the form of mounting tape, a lightweight USB hub, and an extension cable:
Add mounting tape to the hub:
Find a suitable location on your screen, then peel and push it down to affix it:
Plug in the hub, extension, and USBs. You can now easily access USB ports, see indicator lights, and remember devices when you leave. As a bonus, having a wireless dongle up high should extend its range. My headphones now easily work 100 feet/30 metres feet away (roughly double the manufacturer’s estimate).
For a modern look, use a Sharpie to make the edge of the mounting tape darker.
In a previous build, I mounted the hub to the underside of the monitor, which you might prefer:
If you would rather make the hub detachable, you can use 3M Velco strips. Then you could move the hub between different locations. Substitute 3M Command strips if you want the hub to be easily detachable in the future, without leaving a sticky residue. If using Command strips, ensure you use flat surfaces to attach the hub to the monitory. Command strips are thinner than the foam strips, and may not stick well if the surfaces are not flat.