USB Surveillance Camera
| Version | Status | Date Updated | Updated By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 710 | Unknown | N/A | N/A |
| 810 | Unknown | N/A | N/A |
| 1004 | Unknown | N/A | N/A |
| 1204 | Unknown | N/A | N/A |
| 1404 | Unknown | N/A | N/A |
| Usage Information | |||
LinuxMCE does not talk directly to a USB camera. Instead, an intermediate script called Motionwrapper constantly captures images from the camera, detecting motion and saving the images and AVI-timelapse videos.
Install a USB Camera
- Login to LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Show devices in tree
- A list of top-level devices is shown, click on the name of the device to which the camera is connected.
- Click "Create Child Device."
- Enter a name for the new device in the "Description" field and click "Pick Device Template"
- Select "Motion Wrapper" from the dropdown "Device Template" menu.
- A new device with the name you selected is created. You are taken to its properties page,
- Make sure that on the "properties" page that the correct device data "(null),1,1,8" is displayed for the USB camera.
- "Create Child Device;" Create a child device per steps { x - x} using the "Generic Analog Camera" template.
- The device data for the new camera device must be configured, set the "Device" as a single digit, Device Number of /dev/videoX.
- Devices are initialized when the router starts up. You must go to Wizard-->Restart-->"Quick Reload Router." You will be prompted to regenerate the screens.
Troubleshooting
You may have to ensure that you have the correct driver for your USB camera. That process is beyond the scope of this document. The gspca driver supports over 200 cameras however, and is included in the current linux-header package. Therefore, many cameras will work automatically.
You may need a symlink from /lib/modules/2.6.x.x-pluto-2-686/build to /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.x.x-pluto-2-686. This assumes that your device driver creates a /dev/videox file. In addition your webcam might create a /dev/audiox using the snd-usb-audio driver.
No Picture
Sometimes you still get no picture with older cameras, you can try the following
Under the motion wrapper there are Motion Parameters... try changing the resolution to a lower resolution for older webcams they might not support 640x480 (default) so make it 320x240.
Also these parameters seem to help get a picture if nothing can be seen.
minimum_motion_frames 2 snapshot_interval 2
You will have to reboot your core after this, just restarting motion didn't help
