firewire hub?

hi guys. Well Im still struggling to get a 17"mbp that works properly.-about to send 2nd one back!(different issues)

Im needing to have at least 2 or 3 firewire peripherals used at same time (an external soundcard and a backup/storage for music samples). Do firewire hubs work ok-there seems to be a lot of bad press on particular models and hardly any choice? Can anyone recommend a particular model from personal experience (I'll be using the mbp for music production as is probably clear from the above).

The couple Ive looked at on the internet (lacie,belkin) seem to be very big-presumably that would cover the usb etc ports and cause problems for access wouldnt it? any ideas? I dont want to go wireless.

If I cant sort this or the 17" mbp hardware problems I may have to abandon the whole thing..

 

unfortunately my external soundcard only has 1 firewire connection

 

yep I know there are-lacie and belkin as I found .but I was asking whethr anyone had any personal experience of any (and could/could not recommend for a mbp) and what to do about access to usb ports etc? any ideas? thanks