Topic: webcam question

If i setup my chumby so that I can access it over the internet and use my webcam attached to it will I still be able to use the chumby normally???

Re: webcam question

It depends upon how your webcam works, and how much CPU load it uses.

For most webcams that simply produce JPEG files, then yes, you should be able to do that, though music may stutter.

Re: webcam question

thanks duane. Is there a tutorial of some kind lying around cause I'm having a hard time finding exact instructions.

Re: webcam question

even just an idea of where to start trying to set this up. I really am clueless. ty.

Re: webcam question

Well, this is not a newbie kind of thing - you have to build the Linux drivers for the webcam, then create a tool to capture the images.  Webcam functionality is not built into the device because there are hundreds of different ones and there simply isn't enough memory to include the support for all of them.

Re: webcam question

sad

Re: webcam question

Alright, I'll see if i can't work my way up to it somehow. The goal is to have it plugged in all the time so I can check in on my turtle from time to time (lol) and still have the chumby perfom its normal functions.

Re: webcam question

Update: Here's where i am so far. I ssh'd into my chumby using putty on my laptop. I plugged a logitech quickcam into the chumby and nothing really happened. The light on the cam didn't come on. I then plugged my Hp Digital Webcam into the chumby and it lit up right away. That's about all I've got at the moment. I'm trying to follow this http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=3976 thread as it seems to be the one webcam thread with the most detail to it. Slow and steady.

Re: webcam question

i ran dmesg on a whim after reading another thread and this is what i got. Towards the bottom it has information on the usb and webcam. I'm sorry to post all of this, i'm not sure if all of it is relevant or not. Let me know what you guys think and where i should go from here.


[392644.330000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 1)
[392644.530000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 2)
[392644.730000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 3)
[392644.930000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c timed out
[392668.290000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 1)
[392668.490000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 2)
[392668.690000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 3)
[392668.890000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c timed out
[392685.910000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 1)
[392686.110000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 2)
[392686.310000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 3)
[392686.510000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c timed out
[392703.530000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 1)
[392703.730000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 2)
[392703.930000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 3)
[392704.130000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c timed out
[392727.440000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 1)
[392727.640000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 2)
[392727.840000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 3)
[392728.040000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c timed out
[392738.780000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 1)
[392738.980000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 2)
[392739.180000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 3)
[392739.380000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c timed out
[392750.080000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 1)
[392750.280000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 2)
[392750.480000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 3)
[392750.680000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c timed out
[392780.310000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 1)
[392780.510000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 2)
[392780.710000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 3)
[392780.910000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c timed out
[392804.240000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 1)
[392804.440000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 2)
[392804.640000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 3)
[392804.840000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c timed out
[392853.410000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 1)
[392853.610000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 2)
[392853.810000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c (try 3)
[392854.010000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50f2c timed out
[392877.350000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 1)
[392877.550000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 2)
[392877.750000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c (try 3)
[392877.950000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50c2c timed out
[392901.310000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 1)
[392901.520000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 2)
[392901.720000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 3)
[392901.920000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c timed out
[392912.640000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 1)
[392912.840000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 2)
[392913.040000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c (try 3)
[392913.240000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c1b50b2c timed out
[392936.520000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[392936.720000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[392936.920000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[392937.120000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[392954.190000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[392954.390000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[392954.590000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[392954.790000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[392978.200000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[392978.400000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[392978.600000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[392978.800000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[392989.560000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[392989.760000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[392989.960000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[392990.160000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393007.170000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393007.370000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393007.570000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393007.770000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393018.480000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393018.680000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393018.880000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393019.080000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393029.780000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393029.980000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393030.180000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393030.380000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393047.420000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393047.620000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393047.820000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393048.020000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393058.720000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393058.920000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393059.120000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393059.320000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393070.040000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393070.240000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393070.440000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393070.640000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393100.320000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c (try 1)
[393100.520000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c (try 2)
[393100.720000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c (try 3)
[393100.920000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c timed out
[393117.970000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c (try 1)
[393118.170000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c (try 2)
[393118.370000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c (try 3)
[393118.570000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266402c timed out
[393141.880000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c2664e2c (try 1)
[393142.080000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c2664e2c (try 2)
[393142.280000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c2664e2c (try 3)
[393142.480000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c2664e2c timed out
[393159.500000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266442c (try 1)
[393159.700000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266442c (try 2)
[393159.900000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266442c (try 3)
[393160.100000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266442c timed out
[393170.820000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393171.020000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393171.220000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393171.420000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393182.120000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 1)
[393182.320000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 2)
[393182.520000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c (try 3)
[393182.720000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266472c timed out
[393237.640000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c266442c (try 1)
[393237.640000] wlan0: direct probe responded
[393237.640000] wlan0: authenticate with AP c266442c (try 1)
[393237.650000] wlan0: authenticated
[393237.650000] wlan0: associate with AP c266442c (try 1)
[393237.660000] wlan0: RX ReassocResp from c0a3e03e (capab=0x431 status=0 aid=2)
[393237.660000] wlan0: associated
[417277.340000] set_bl_intensity with 100
[417277.350000] intensity after modifiers: 100
[417277.350000] setting with parameters 1337
[417277.360000] done.
[417291.010000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[417291.010000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[417291.010000] setting with parameters 213
[417291.020000] done.
[418900.180000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_trigger():220 - Stopping playback DMA
[418900.930000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_dma_request():300 - Got DMA channel 1
[418900.940000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_trigger():205 - Starting playback DMA
[422677.320000] set_bl_intensity with 100
[422677.320000] intensity after modifiers: 100
[422677.330000] setting with parameters 1337
[422677.330000] done.
[429325.390000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[429325.390000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[429325.400000] setting with parameters 213
[429325.400000] done.
[503677.380000] set_bl_intensity with 100
[503677.390000] intensity after modifiers: 100
[503677.390000] setting with parameters 1337
[503677.400000] done.
[503690.880000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[503690.880000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[503690.900000] setting with parameters 213
[503690.900000] done.
[509077.360000] set_bl_intensity with 100
[509077.370000] intensity after modifiers: 100
[509077.370000] setting with parameters 1337
[509077.380000] done.
[509101.030000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[509101.030000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[509101.030000] setting with parameters 213
[509101.040000] done.
[510267.390000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_trigger():220 - Stopping playback DMA
[510268.140000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_dma_request():300 - Got DMA channel 1
[510268.160000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_trigger():205 - Starting playback DMA
[529048.500000] No probe response from AP c2843eb0 after 500ms, disconnecting.
[529069.210000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c39e4e2c (try 1)
[529069.410000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c39e4e2c (try 2)
[529069.610000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c39e4e2c (try 3)
[529069.810000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c39e4e2c timed out
[529080.510000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c (try 1)
[529080.710000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c (try 2)
[529080.910000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c (try 3)
[529081.110000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c timed out
[529104.500000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c (try 1)
[529104.700000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c (try 2)
[529104.900000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c (try 3)
[529105.100000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c11e282c timed out
[529141.050000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c (try 1)
[529141.250000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c (try 2)
[529141.450000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c (try 3)
[529141.650000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c timed out
[529158.660000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c (try 1)
[529158.860000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c (try 2)
[529159.060000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c (try 3)
[529159.260000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882b2c timed out
[529176.350000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c088252c (try 1)
[529176.550000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c088252c (try 2)
[529176.750000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c088252c (try 3)
[529176.950000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c088252c timed out
[529219.350000] wlan0: direct probe to AP c0882e2c (try 1)
[529219.370000] wlan0: direct probe responded
[529219.370000] wlan0: authenticate with AP c0882e2c (try 1)
[529219.430000] wlan0: authenticated
[529219.440000] wlan0: associate with AP c0882e2c (try 1)
[529219.460000] wlan0: RX ReassocResp from c191003e (capab=0x431 status=0 aid=1)
[529219.460000] wlan0: associated
[578058.880000] set_bl_intensity with 0
[578058.880000] intensity after modifiers: 0
[578058.880000] setting with parameters 0
[578058.890000] done.
[578063.620000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[578063.640000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[578063.640000] setting with parameters 213
[578063.650000] done.
[578083.110000] set_bl_intensity with 0
[578083.110000] intensity after modifiers: 0
[578083.110000] setting with parameters 0
[578083.120000] done.
[578510.900000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[578510.900000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[578510.900000] setting with parameters 213
[578510.920000] done.
[579252.650000] set_bl_intensity with 0
[579252.650000] intensity after modifiers: 0
[579252.660000] setting with parameters 0
[579252.670000] done.
[595477.400000] set_bl_intensity with 100
[595477.400000] intensity after modifiers: 100
[595477.410000] setting with parameters 1337
[595477.410000] done.
[595509.190000] set_bl_intensity with 40
[595509.190000] intensity after modifiers: 40
[595509.190000] setting with parameters 213
[595509.200000] done.
[608178.140000] usb 1-1.1: new full speed USB device using fsl-ehci and address 4
[608178.260000] usb 1-1.1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[608179.030000] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
[608179.180000] gspca: main v2.3.0 registered
[608179.240000] gspca: probing 046d:08af
[608180.940000] zc3xx: probe 2wr ov vga 0x0000
[608180.980000] zc3xx: probe sensor -> 11
[608180.980000] zc3xx: Find Sensor HV7131R(c)
[608181.010000] gspca: probe ok
[608181.050000] usbcore: registered new interface driver zc3xx
[608181.060000] zc3xx: registered
[608243.680000] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, address 4
[608243.760000] gspca: disconnect complete
[608246.020000] usb 1-1.1: new full speed USB device using fsl-ehci and address 5
[608246.220000] usb 1-1.1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[608246.600000] gspca: probing 093a:2460
[608246.600000] pac207: Pixart Sensor ID 0x27 Chips ID 0x00
[608246.610000] pac207: Pixart PAC207BCA Image Processor and Control Chip detected (vid/pid 0x093A:0x2460)
[608246.680000] gspca: probe ok
[608246.710000] usbcore: registered new interface driver pac207
[608246.710000] pac207: registered
[615699.440000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_trigger():220 - Stopping playback DMA
[615700.500000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_dma_request():300 - Got DMA channel 1
[615700.520000] stmp3xxx_pcm.c - stmp3xxx_pcm_trigger():205 - Starting playback DMA

Re: webcam question

?

Re: webcam question

It looks like your webcam is recognized.  You should run "dmesg -c " before plugging in te webcam to see just what's new due to the webcam.

My suggestions to improve your odds of getting the results you want on the Chumby;

1. First test your webcam using linux on your labtop.  Setting up Ubuntu for dual boot is very easy.  First try a a graphics based program such as "Cheese".  If your webcam doesn't work out of the box under Linux or the quality isn't what you want, buy a new webcam.

2. Still under Ubuntu, set up your application using just using scripting and the command line interface.  All the tools you need and help are close at hand.  If your webcam does what you want at this point, move over to the Chumby.  Most likely any remaining issues will non-webcam specific.

Re: webcam question

thanks very much!

Re: webcam question

Charles wrote:

hey....
i have a problem....
If i setup  chumby so that I can access webcam over the internet
use my webcam attached to it will and can I still be able to use the chumby as its normally???

It's possible but keep in mind Chumby's limited cpu and memory (relative to a PC).  Best case, run a script to capture a webcam image every minute or so and store it where you can download it (rather than run a HTML server on the Chumby)

Running just the webcam and the HTML server with the control panel stopped works too but I found that was less robust than just storing the images and retrieving them later or remotely.  Running all 3 locks up even faster.

Think carefully about what your end goal is.  My goal, aside from playing around with the technology, was to have a security cam running when I'm not home.  The Chumby can easily revert to its normal role when I am home.  Turning off the control panel has another advantage.  You can display captured images on the Chumby screen and place it in a window visible from the outside.  I imagined that a potential intruder would take more seriously a system that displays his image.

Stand-alone IP webcams  are  a more bullet-proof solution and are remarkably cheap.  I just enjoy getting a free extra out of the Chumby.