How can I check my balance on hardware wallet such as Trezor or Ledger?

[popcornBlastoise]

Some questions regarding how these hardware wallets work:

1. Is there a way to check the balance of a public address, so that I can look at my balance without having to plug these hardware wallets into a USB?

2. If no, can I look at the balance if I plug into the USB of an offline computer?

Thanks for the help! Mainly wanted to better understand how secure these hardware wallets are compared to paper wallets.

[aadje93]

Afaik i know all hardware wallets have a normal wallet addy so you can check the balance on blockchain for example or on the websitw from the hardware wallets.

[popcornBlastoise]

Thanks! Didn't know about sites like blockchain.info and https://etherchain.org/

Just to make sure I understand correctly, does this mean each cryptocurrency has its own blockchain, and so each one would have some website that lets you look up the public address and see the balance for that specific cyptocurrency?

[Velkro]

Just to make sure I understand correctly, does this mean each cryptocurrency has its own blockchain, and so each one would have some website that lets you look up the public address and see the balance for that specific cyptocurrency?

Yes, or you can download full client and check it yourself (dont need website then).
This blockchains are with diffirent rules so you can't send BTC to LTC address.

[Coin-Keeper]

Some questions regarding how these hardware wallets work:

1. Is there a way to check the balance of a public address, so that I can look at my balance without having to plug these hardware wallets into a USB?

2. If no, can I look at the balance if I plug into the USB of an offline computer?

Thanks for the help! Mainly wanted to better understand how secure these hardware wallets are compared to paper wallets.

There is another very easy and fast method for "long term" monitoring of activity without risking private keys.  I use Trezors and Electrum for the record.  I simply open my Trezor and generate the MPK (master public key) for the wallet.  Now you can use the MPK in Electrum and quickly and easily monitor your wallet contents with NO danger of a private key being leaked or stolen by malware.  You don't even need to have your Trezor around for monitoring a wallet using MPKs and Electrum.  The MPK won't ever change and Electrum calls such a wallet a "watching only wallet".   Safe, fast, sure fire.

[vh]

Thanks! Didn't know about sites like blockchain.info and https://etherchain.org/

Just to make sure I understand correctly, does this mean each cryptocurrency has its own blockchain, and so each one would have some website that lets you look up the public address and see the balance for that specific cyptocurrency?

The blockchain is a public log of all transactions.    There will be multiple sites available to access the balance of any address, including some mobile apps you can load public address into as monitor only to get balance and activity notifications, while still keeping your keys secure.