CapableRobot
Hardware Availability
Hi!
The availability of the kit and standalone unit on Mouser are not reassuring. We wanted to start a project with these things, but now we're not sure (see https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Crowd-Supply/CS-PROGUSBHUB-03?qs=%252B6g0mu59x7JoOjjmRTvHeQ%3D%3D ).
Is the unit deprecated or is it just the chip shortage that causes things to take longer?
The USB Hub has unfortunately been hit rather hard by supply chain impacts and chip shortages. We do have a small inventory of PCBs on hand and are working with Mouser to get re-stocked there -- but unit price is likely going up due to various price increases.
In parallel with that, we are working on a USB3 version of the Hub based on easier to source components. Critical ICs for that design are already on hand here, but I don't expect general availability of that product until late in the year.
We will likely end up redesigning the USB2 version of the Hub at the same time to work around the supply issues with the current design. The current version has some critical Microchip and TI parts which have >1 year lead times and no good drop-in replacements -- it will be faster and lower schedule risk to rebuild around easier to source parts than trust the lead time on those parts (we've seen lead times on orders for similar parts continuously slip).
OK. We could bridge a 6month to a year gap until more is available. How can we get a hold of the remaining stock? We would only need about 10 units at the moment.
@luetm If you are still in need of hardware, please email me at (my username) @ capablerobot.com -- we have additional stock of the USB2 version of the Hub and the supply chain can now support a new build in Q1 of 2023.