[AG-TECH] Video cam advice for XP/linux laptop

[Gary Refka]

Mike,

As Chris has pointed out the standard VIC and RH below 7.3 do not support
USB cameras without a lot of fiddling.  We have run RH 7.3 with OpenMash Vic
and the Logitech Pro 3000 with success, as have others.  I'm not sure what
this effect this combination would have on using the PIG.

Gary A. Refka
Director of Engineering Operations
INSORS Integrated Communications, Inc.
111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1412
Chicago, IL 60604
Email: grefka at insors.com
On the Web: www.insors.com
Office (312)786-9169
Mobile (847)922-8950

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov [mailto:owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov]On
Behalf Of Michael Daw
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 7:50 AM
To: Christoph Willing
Cc: AG Technical Developers; Jim Miller
Subject: RE: [AG-TECH] Video cam advice for XP/linux laptop


Chris,

Thanks for this. This Logitech 4000 doesn't exactly appear a perfect
candidate. Jim Miller of inSORS sent me a separate mail recommending the
3000 model. I wonder if the 3000 has similar problems to those you
describe...? Jim/anyone?

--Mike

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christoph Willing [mailto:chris at vislab.usyd.edu.au]
> Sent: 12 November 2002 23:04
> To: Michael Daw
> Cc: AG Technical Developers
> Subject: Re: [AG-TECH] Video cam advice for XP/linux laptop
>
>
> On Wed, 2002-11-13 at 02:52, Michael Daw wrote:
> > Dear all,
> >
> > I'm about to configure a laptop to be a PIG-like machine and I
> need to buy a
> > camera. I'm going to make the laptop dual boot WinXP and Linux.
> >
> > I liked the look of those Kritter cams, but it seems they don't
> work under
> > Linux
> >
> (http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/web-mail-archive/lists/ag-tech/2002/0
> 6/msg00125
> > .html). Has anyone got any recommendation for a similar thing
> that has good
> > quality video and works under both OS's? The e-mail at the link
> above lists
> > quite a few cameras, but I'd be interested in personal
> > recommendations/advice on models.
> >
> > --Mike
> >
>
> Mike,
>
> I've been trying out a Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000 via usb on our single
> machine node under Linux. It uses the pwc philips module and requires a
> pre-install of usb-uhci module. For full picture size (640x480) you'll
> also need to post-install the pwcx-i386 module (separately supplied, as
> described in above email).
>
> It comes with installation CDs for Windows so I guess it works that way,
> but I haven't tried it.
>
> Its downsides for me are
>
> 1. doesn't work with "normal" vic. It _does_ work with openMash vic
> (which I quite like for other reasons) however openMash vic uses a lot
> of cpu whenever there are active video streams i.e. you've clicked on a
> thumbnail to open that streams window
>
> 2. the size of 640x480; when that is halved to fit into a H261 frame it
> leaves a fairly wide border around the image i.e. 320x240 image in
> 352x288 window
>
> 3. I can't achieve frame rate better than 10fps under openMash vic. UCL
> vic achieves 30fps but no picture.
>
> Maybe someone is interested in fixing either of the vic programs?
>
> chris
>
>
> --
> Chris Willing                      Telephone   (61-2) 9351 3005
> VisLab, A28                        Facsimile   (61-2) 9351 1880
> University of Sydney
> NSW 2006 Australia                http://www.vislab.usyd.edu.au
>
>
>