|  | 5.4 | Layer 1 Components and Devices
| 5.4.8 | Multiport repeaters (hubs)
Multiport repeaters combine connectivity with the amplifying and re-timing properties of repeaters. It is typical to see 4, 8, 12, and up to 24, ports on multiport repeaters. This allows many devices to be cheaply and easily interconnected. Multiport repeaters are often called hubs, instead of repeaters, when referring to the devices that serve as the center of a star topology network. Hubs are very common internetworking devices. Since the typical unmanaged hub only requires power and plugged-in RJ-45 jacks, they are great for setting up a network quickly. Like the repeaters on which they are based, they only deal with bits, and are Layer 1 devices.