dm93 * home VideoPresence

I'd like to be able to see my kids when I call home from travelling. I'd like to get the cousins together by video link.

13Sep2004: TravelCheckList ... trying to set up videoconf from MaJoStudio... the camera keeps shutting itself off. clue: take the tape out.

9Sep2004: got a new laptop, PbJam; took a tour of the MIT Stata center over iChat.

TimBL? and I have gotten it working a few times (he using netmeeting and I using DebianPackage:gnomemeeting. I have a Hauppage WinCast?/TV that I bought years ago; the bttv driver seems to work. I think timbl uses a Hauppage bttv under windows.)

I'm InTheMarket for a USB video camera that works with linux. I keep finding cheap ones (<$50) at bestbuy and such, buying them, trying them out, and losing.

Technologies I've learned about during my search:

3Jun2004: DebianPackage:openmcu from the OpenH323 project...

Description:

H.323 conferencing server OpenH323? console interactive conferencing server that allows two or more people using a H.323 client to talk to each other in chat rooms. The server mixes the sound coming from all participants and splits the image so that up to 4 of them can be seen.

5Feb2004: iChat talks to AIM, says slashdot. gotta check it out.

29Nov2003: got a quickcam express at Micro Center for $49.99 (UPACode 097855011985). Thought it was the same one Gerald reported to work well. Trying it with mod_quickcam crashed DirkMachine hard! Turns out the USB ID is 0x46d/0x870. Argh! This is the quickcam for notebooks! Closer inspection of the Micro Center receipt reveals "REV2". Sigh... there ought to be a law about hardware interfaces, kinda like ingredients and nutrition info on food labels.

returned it for a qc 4000.

software for it

3Dec: ok, got a Logitech QuickCam? Pro 4000. UPACode 097855014597. UsbId? 046d:08b2

modprobe pwc looks good...

Dec 3 21:22:06 dirk kernel: pwc Philips PCA645/646 + PCVC675/680/690 + PCVC730/740/750 webcam module version 8.3 loaded. Dec 3 21:22:06 dirk kernel: pwc Also supports the Askey VC010, Logitech Quickcam 3000 Pro and the Samsung MPC-C10 and MPC-C30. Dec 3 21:22:06 dirk kernel: usb.c: registered new driver Philips webcam

hmm... which device?

searching for "pwc hotplug" finds a page that recommends camstream... apt-cach search... yup, DebianPackage:camstream.

aha... support for the quickcam 4000 was added 2002-10-05 in version 8.8 of PWC. upgraded SonyVaioJammer kernel to 2.4.22 or some such, and bingo, that has pwc v8.10.

23Jun2003 ooh... iSight

21Dec2002: picked up a Logitech QuickCam? for Notebooks at the local CompUSA?. UPACode: 097P55014634

usb: Vendor Id: 046d Product Id: 0870

I was able to confirm linux support right in the store using my new WearableGizmo. yeah pocket google!

Now let's see if it works...

not out of the box...

Dec 21 20:40:37 dirk kernel: usb.c: USB device 2 (vend/prod 0x46d/0x870) is not claimed by any active driver.

aha... now we're jammin... a simple "modprobe pwc" gives...

  Dec 21 20:52:43 dirk kernel: pwc Philips PCA645/646 + PCVC675/680/690 + PCVC730/740/750 webcam module version 8.3 loaded.
  Dec 21 20:52:43 dirk kernel: pwc Also supports the Askey VC010, Logitech Quickcam 3000 Pro and the Samsung MPC-C10 and MPC-C30.
  Dec 21 20:52:43 dirk kernel: usb.c: registered new driver Philips webcam

let's try gnomemeeting... no, I don't see it as another video device.

Hmm... "2002-12-16: PWC 8.10 is out; there are 2 fixes (including the name of the QuickCam? Notebook webcam" hmm... need kernel 2.4.20, but I'm using a custom kernel for win4lin. well, this thing is for the SonyVaioJammer anyway...

No, pwc is the wrong driver. "this vendor and device id is claimed by mod_quickcam that is the qce-ga driver" -- 27 Sep. Trying DebanPackage:qce-source with DebinaPackage:kernel-source-2.4.20 and DebianPackage:kernel-image-2.4.20-686

Hmmm Xirlink Stingray PC camera (VEO) for $9.99 after rebate at BestBuy?, 9Dec2001. support details for linux look promising! Oops... bad news: (a) it doesn't really work, and (b) the linux driver is reverse-engineered, not written from Mfg specs.

19Dec: turns out it doesn't really work. Bummer. It sorta works under linux... but I'm not likely to invest in getting it working becaus (a) the driver is reverse-engineered, not based on docs from the manufacturer, and (b) even under windows where it works as designed, it's really slow (just a few frames per second). Perhaps USB video is just not workable?

This sounds cool:

[@@see: telagent, favorite telcon gizmo]?

(19 December) Ian: I am interested in this phone/PDA with keyboard - handspring treo available Jan 2002

I bought a Quickcam Express USB from a local store for ~$50 USD, seems to work fairly well with Linux using qce-ga stuff.
Gerald