SGT121 CAC Reader with Multi-Memory Reader and USB 3-port Hub

I bought this as a secondary CAC reader to use for my Surface Pro. I've found it exceedingly useful, particularly for expansion purposes, considering the Surface Pro only has one USB port. Installation of the driver was automatic with no hiccups, and from that moment forth, I have had absolutely no issues with getting this device to read my CAC. As far as ergonomics and portability, the fact that the USB end extends out of the housing is useful in that, upon connection, it doesn't occlude other controls or ports that may be nearby. This end also folds back and is secured into the housing of the device when not in use, which is a plus that adds to its overall compact nature. The entire device is small and lightweight, yet doesn't feel entirely flimsy so as to make you afraid to handle it. Lastly, I find a huge plus being the indicator light. Once plugged into your PC (or comparable device), a steady red light illuminates, which is a helpful indicator that the device is working properly and receiving adequate power. Once you attach portable media into its slots, or inset a CAC, a blue light illuminates (creates a purple glow, really, as it is in combination with the red light), to let you know you're connected. The light indicator is a small feature, but its importance as a tell-all can't be understated. Overall, I'd recommend this product to anyone needing a CAC reader for on-the-go use. Also, the expansion from USB to three is helpful. As stated in the product information, you can also use this device to read SD, Micro SD, SIM, M2, MS, SDXC, and MMC. This device is definitely worth the small price I paid for it... and more!

I would've given this 4 stars because the multiple functionalities but I'm not too happy that it is a dongle. Since it is a dongle with a USB drive, the short little cable that connects the USB to the device breaks really easily. After pulling the USB in and out a few times the cable receives a ton of wear and tear. Mine is rendered useless now because the cable completely broke off after about 6 uses. I take care of my electronics, but this is definitely a design flaw.

This item arrived quickly and I was very pleased when it worked perfectly with my Surface Pro. I was able to use external peripherals with the the USB hub and the PIV/CAC reader consistently read my PIV card until, without warning, it stopped reading PIV and SD cards one week after it arrived. I bought a second USB PIV reader which works just fine when plugged into the SGT121 USB ports, so the problem is definitely with the SGT121 PIV reader slot. Likewise, if I plug an external SD card reader into the USB ports on the SGT121, I have no problems reading SD cards. I will request a second unit and will update this review with reliability information.Update 7/3/2013: Tried the reader in another machine and the PIV reader works just fine. Updated my browser on the first machine and it now seems to work fine. Not sure if this completely solves the problem, but it appears to be working fine for now. As a result, I have upgraded my rating to 4 stars as I really appreciate the small form factor and can easily take it in my accessory bag when I travel. Minus one star for the initial inconsistency.

This is a great little tool. It is about the size of the CAC card and has a slot for everything and three USB ports. I needed a CAC reader for my Dell XPS12 with Windows 8 which only has two USB ports right next to each other and no SD slots. Most small readers covered both ports but because this one has the extended USB cable I can still use my other port in addition to the three on this device.I had no problems with it recognizing the card or using any SD ports. There are ports for stuff I don't even know what they are, but if i needed to plug one in I am good to go.It appears sturdy enough to last me. I've used it a few weeks now, almost daily. The little USB cable clicks in to the underside of the device when not in use so it transports nicely as well.Product shipped quick and arrived a day early.I think it is one of the best tools I've found recently.

I was excited at the capabilities of this reader, but very disappointed with its performance. It works fine and then it just stops working. When the first one stopped working after a week I emailed Stanley Global and they quickly sent me another one. The replacement lasted a month or so and then it quit too. No rhyme or reason to it -- it works fine and then one time you insert your card and it's dead. I did all the driver updates and tried it on different PCs -- no luck. I really liked the USB ports and all the accessory plugs, but I bought it primarily for smart card use. I'd strongly recommend avoiding this one.

Device works very nicely with the single USB port on my Samsung Series 7 Slate. With it plugged into the slate's docking station USB port, have simultaneously used the SDXC reader, smart card reader, and an external 500GB hard drive (without external power source) plugged into one the device's three USB ports. Worked without a glitch. Exactly what I was looking for and well worth the money.23 Apr 2012 Update: Still working great with both standard SDXC card (128GB) and micro SDXC (64GB) card. Also reads my CAC smart card without a problem. Ordering a second unit to keep in my Series 7 travel kit.

I wanted it for the ability to read SIM cards. It doesn't read them. I kept it for the SD card reader capability and the ability to plug in USB attachments. I'm really disappointed in not being able to read SIMs but I haven't found any good reviews for any product which accomplishes that.

I bought this smart card reader so that I would be able to access my NMCI e-mail from home. Well, this item works about half the time. And it's not a software issue; the reader recognizes when there is a card in the slot, but it takes quite a few times of taking it out and putting it back in before it starts to read the embedded chip. I'm considering buying a different one to see if that one works any better.