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by **scoon1329** on Wed May 05, 2010 3:14 pm

I'm having some issues getting my sweex webcam (ID 0ac8:3420 Z-Star Microelectronics Corp) to work correctly on various programs (mainly Skype 2.1.0.81). I am presented with a blank screen every time I test the camera in Skype.

Currently the only way I can get the camera to work is to use cheese, however only certain resolutions work, below is a list of tested resolutions and results.

1280x1024 - OK
1280x960 - OK
1280x800 - OK

1024x768 - Blank screen
800x600 - Blank screen

640x480 - OK

352x288 - Blank screen

320x240 - OK
176x144 - OK
160x120 - OK

I've got a feeling Skype may be trying to use one of the faulty resolutions, though that is just a guess and not really based on any other knowledge other than these observations.

I'm currently using Mint 9 RC - 64 bit edition, but I have experienced the same problem in mint 8 (32 & 64 bit) and also mint 7 (32 & 64 bit)

Any help in getting the camera to work in these resolutions and/or in Skype would be much appreciated.

Below are the relevant outputs from dmesg and lsusb -v

dmesg

Code: Select all: [ 15.226010] Linux video capture interface: v2.00 [ 15.229258] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device Venus USB2.0 Camera (0ac8:3420) [ 15.295429] EDAC amd64: This node reports that Memory ECC is currently disabled, set F3x44[22] (0000:00:18.3). [ 15.295438] EDAC amd64: ECC disabled in the BIOS or no ECC capability, module will not load. [ 15.295439] Either enable ECC checking or force module loading by setting 'ecc_enable_override'. [ 15.295441] (Note that use of the override may cause unknown side effects.) [ 15.295462] amd64_edac: probe of 0000:00:18.2 failed with error -22 [ 15.338606] input: Venus USB2.0 Camera as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/input/input5 [ 15.338700] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo [ 15.343460] USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0) [ 15.396990] vga16fb: initializing [ 15.396996] vga16fb: mapped to 0xffff8800000a0000 [ 15.397004] vga16fb: not registering due to another framebuffer present

lsusb -v

Code: Select all: Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0ac8:3420 Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. Device Descriptor: bLength 18 bDescriptorType 1 bcdUSB 2.00 bDeviceClass 239 Miscellaneous Device bDeviceSubClass 2 ? bDeviceProtocol 1 Interface Association bMaxPacketSize0 64 idVendor 0x0ac8 Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. idProduct 0x3420 bcdDevice 1.00 iManufacturer 1 iProduct 2 iSerial 0 bNumConfigurations 1 Configuration Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 2 wTotalLength 797 bNumInterfaces 4 bConfigurationValue 1 iConfiguration 0 bmAttributes 0x80 (Bus Powered) MaxPower 128mA Interface Association: bLength 8 bDescriptorType 11 bFirstInterface 0 bInterfaceCount 2 bFunctionClass 14 Video bFunctionSubClass 3 Video Interface Collection bFunctionProtocol 0 iFunction 2 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 0 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 1 Video Control bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 2 VideoControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 13 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (HEADER) bcdUVC 1.00 wTotalLength 79 dwClockFrequency 30.000000MHz bInCollection 1 baInterfaceNr( 0) 1 VideoControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 18 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (INPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 1 wTerminalType 0x0201 Camera Sensor bAssocTerminal 0 iTerminal 0 wObjectiveFocalLengthMin 0 wObjectiveFocalLengthMax 0 wOcularFocalLength 0 bControlSize 3 bmControls 0x0000000a Auto-Exposure Mode Exposure Time (Absolute) VideoControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 11 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (PROCESSING_UNIT) Warning: Descriptor too short bUnitID 2 bSourceID 1 wMaxMultiplier 0 bControlSize 2 bmControls 0x0000177b Brightness Contrast Saturation Sharpness Gamma White Balance Temperature Backlight Compensation Gain Power Line Frequency White Balance Temperature, Auto iProcessing 0 bmVideoStandards 0x 9 None SECAM - 625/50 VideoControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 3 wTerminalType 0x0101 USB Streaming bAssocTerminal 0 bSourceID 2 iTerminal 0 VideoControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 28 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 6 (EXTENSION_UNIT) bUnitID 4 guidExtensionCode {5dc717a9-1941-da11-ae0e-000d56ac7b4c} bNumControl 8 bNrPins 1 baSourceID( 0) 1 bControlSize 3 bmControls( 0) 0x59 bmControls( 1) 0x80 bmControls( 2) 0x80 iExtension 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x000a 1x 10 bytes bInterval 5 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 14 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (INPUT_HEADER) bNumFormats 1 wTotalLength 433 bEndPointAddress 130 bmInfo 0 bTerminalLink 3 bStillCaptureMethod 2 bTriggerSupport 1 bTriggerUsage 1 bControlSize 1 bmaControls( 0) 27 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 27 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 4 (FORMAT_UNCOMPRESSED) bFormatIndex 1 bNumFrameDescriptors 10 guidFormat {59555932-0000-1000-8000-00aa00389b71} bBitsPerPixel 16 bDefaultFrameIndex 1 bAspectRatioX 0 bAspectRatioY 0 bmInterlaceFlags 0x00 Interlaced stream or variable: No Fields per frame: 1 fields Field 1 first: No Field pattern: Field 1 only bCopyProtect 0 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 1 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 640 wHeight 480 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 614400 dwDefaultFrameInterval 333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 666667 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 2 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 352 wHeight 288 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 202752 dwDefaultFrameInterval 333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 666667 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 3 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 320 wHeight 240 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 153600 dwDefaultFrameInterval 333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 666667 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 4 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 176 wHeight 144 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 50688 dwDefaultFrameInterval 333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 666667 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 5 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 160 wHeight 120 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 38400 dwDefaultFrameInterval 333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 666667 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 6 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 800 wHeight 600 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 960000 dwDefaultFrameInterval 800000 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 800000 dwFrameInterval( 1) 1333333 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 7 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 1024 wHeight 768 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 1572864 dwDefaultFrameInterval 800000 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 800000 dwFrameInterval( 1) 1333333 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 8 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 1280 wHeight 800 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 2048000 dwDefaultFrameInterval 1333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 1333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 2000000 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 9 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 1280 wHeight 960 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 2457600 dwDefaultFrameInterval 1333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 1333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 2000000 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 34 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 5 (FRAME_UNCOMPRESSED) bFrameIndex 10 bmCapabilities 0x00 Still image unsupported wWidth 1280 wHeight 1024 dwMinBitRate 768000 dwMaxBitRate 196608000 dwMaxVideoFrameBufferSize 2621440 dwDefaultFrameInterval 1333333 bFrameIntervalType 2 dwFrameInterval( 0) 1333333 dwFrameInterval( 1) 2000000 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 46 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 3 (STILL_IMAGE_FRAME) bEndpointAddress 0 bNumImageSizePatterns 10 wWidth( 0) 640 wHeight( 0) 480 wWidth( 1) 352 wHeight( 1) 288 wWidth( 2) 320 wHeight( 2) 240 wWidth( 3) 176 wHeight( 3) 144 wWidth( 4) 160 wHeight( 4) 120 wWidth( 5) 800 wHeight( 5) 600 wWidth( 6) 1024 wHeight( 6) 768 wWidth( 7) 1280 wHeight( 7) 800 wWidth( 8) 1280 wHeight( 8) 960 wWidth( 9) 1280 wHeight( 9) 1024 bNumCompressionPatterns 10 VideoStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 6 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 13 (COLORFORMAT) bColorPrimaries 0 (Unspecified) bTransferCharacteristics 0 (Unspecified) bMatrixCoefficients 0 (Unspecified) Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 1 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0080 1x 128 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 2 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 3 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0400 1x 1024 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 4 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0b00 2x 768 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 5 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0c00 2x 1024 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 6 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x1380 3x 896 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 7 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 14 Video bInterfaceSubClass 2 Video Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN bmAttributes 5 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Asynchronous Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x1400 3x 1024 bytes bInterval 1 Interface Association: bLength 8 bDescriptorType 11 bFirstInterface 2 bInterfaceCount 2 bFunctionClass 1 Audio bFunctionSubClass 2 Streaming bFunctionProtocol 0 iFunction 3 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 2 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 1 Control Device bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 3 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (HEADER) bcdADC 1.00 wTotalLength 39 bInCollection 1 baInterfaceNr( 0) 3 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 12 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (INPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 1 wTerminalType 0x0201 Microphone bAssocTerminal 0 bNrChannels 1 wChannelConfig 0x0000 iChannelNames 0 iTerminal 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 6 (FEATURE_UNIT) bUnitID 2 bSourceID 1 bControlSize 1 bmaControls( 0) 0x00 bmaControls( 1) 0x03 Mute Volume iFeature 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 3 wTerminalType 0x0101 USB Streaming bAssocTerminal 1 bSourceID 2 iTerminal 0 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 3 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 3 bAlternateSetting 1 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (AS_GENERAL) bTerminalLink 3 bDelay 1 frames wFormatTag 1 PCM AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 29 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (FORMAT_TYPE) bFormatType 1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I) bNrChannels 1 bSubframeSize 2 bBitResolution 16 bSamFreqType 7 Discrete tSamFreq[ 0] 8000 tSamFreq[ 1] 11025 tSamFreq[ 2] 16000 tSamFreq[ 3] 22050 tSamFreq[ 4] 32000 tSamFreq[ 5] 44100 tSamFreq[ 6] 48000 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN bmAttributes 1 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0062 1x 98 bytes bInterval 4 bRefresh 0 bSynchAddress 0 AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 37 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (EP_GENERAL) bmAttributes 0x01 Sampling Frequency bLockDelayUnits 0 Undefined wLockDelay 0 Undefined

Much Thanks!
Joe

by **rich_roast** on Wed May 05, 2010 3:58 pm

I've only read your report perfunctorily but I owned a sweex webcam at one point and it needed a fix very similar to the one I suggest in this thread; replace

Code: Select all: v4l2convert.so

for

Code: Select all: v4l1compat.so

for the Sweexter. Hope it works, let us know if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

by **scoon1329** on Wed May 05, 2010 4:12 pm

Gave it a try, but it's still not working. Here's the output.

Code: Select all: ~ $ LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype ERROR: ld.so: object '/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.

Cheers

/Joe

by **rich_roast** on Wed May 05, 2010 4:22 pm

I see your running 64 bit and that might be a cause but I don't really know. IIRC when I had my Sweex I was running on 64 (which I've since downgraded to 32 for want of usable RAM).

I'm hoping someone more in the know will be able to help will look at this, since I'm not really sure what's causing the problem myself, yet. I'll have another look, though.

[update:]I'm nothing if not quick. I've seen this which has given me food for thought; my hack works for me but apparently it's "not good since you are preloading the script." I hope the advice, with the better script at the last post, helps out. Report back here for further assistance, again, I haven't time to properly review what's going on there but it looked promising to me

by **scoon1329** on Wed May 05, 2010 7:24 pm

OK, getting somewhere (or maybe not).

I've managed to get the v4l library loaded in to skype with 2 methods. One executed from the terminal and one from a script. (using the 32bit libraries this time, forgot the skype client wasn't 64bit whoops, thanks for the pointer

)

Terminal

Code: Select all: LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype

Script

Code: Select all: #!/bin/sh cd "/usr/bin" if [ -n "/usr/bin" ]; then if [ "${LD_LIBRARY_PATH+set}" = "set" ]; then export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:/usr/bin" else export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/usr/bin" fi fi LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l1compat.so exec /usr/bin/skype "$@"

Both of these work fine in that they load Skype without any errors displayed.

I'm not sure I got the script entirely right as i don't really understand it, I changed /opt/skype for /usr/bin as the skype binary is located there and have changed v4l2convert.so to v4l1compat.so.

Should LD_LIBRARY_PATH be just as it is or do I need to change it to the actual path?

Anyway neither of these are resolving the webcam problem. i.e. I'm still getting a blank box when I test my webcam in the Skype options.

Is it possible that the problem lies in the resolution that Skype wants the webcam to use (like the issues in cheese)? I'm not amazingly familiar with how drivers in linux work to be honest, still converting my brain from windows, so correct me if I'm not looking at this in the right way.

by **scoon1329** on Tue May 18, 2010 5:54 pm

Sorry for the bump, I've looked at a number of solved topics on this issue and all seem to refer to a similar script to the one in my previous post, however it's not working for me at all. I've tried it with mint 9 and 8, 32 and 64 bit, but to no avail. Any more ideas would be much appreciated.

Joe

by **Mitsakos** on Sat May 05, 2012 4:53 am

I just installed LMDE with Mate and I have the exact same issue with the same camera.

How you find a solution to this problem?

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