webcam issues

[thebeaky]

Hiya

Basic problem:
I am unable to work out which information fits me from the forums and the help I can see, I found a site with drivers that work up to puppy 2.7.
I have found some details about using gspca but I am not sure if this works with either of my cameras

the first
manufacturer unknown (possibly bntchina) its not easy to get hold of standard products here, almost no-one here uses linux, so explaining needs to shop keepers is a struggle.
vendor 093a product id 2620

the second
trust spacecam vendor 0402 product id 5603
picture quality not great in windows. so would prefer to use the china one


I have tried to modprobe videodev and gspca but couldn't work out exactly what I was supposed to see when they were done.

I found somewhere a project working on drivers for the spacecam, but nothing complete, so i figure this is not ready yet, this camera is old and has bad picture quality.

how can I tell if gspca should work with either of these camera's.

I would really like to get one of them working with skype.

many thanks.

system details
puppy 4.2 retro
dell inspiron 2600 laptop
running from CD and a usb with pupsave.
(I cant remember the other details that might be needed, but if something would be usefull to help work things out please ask.)

[thebeaky]

the chinese webcam is gearhead, and I think pioneer series.

[tempestuous]

Well done for reporting your USB device ID's. Webcam drivers for Linux are in a constant state of catch-up, and both of your webcams are very new. According to Google both of your webcams are supported by the latest gspca release.

For v093a p2620 (Gear Head) the exact gspca version is gspca_pac7311

For v0402 p5603 (ALi M5602) the exact gspca version is gspca_m5602
This driver may require the lib4l library, available here
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 689#270689

Both of these new drivers should be contained in Jaunty Puppy (uPup), which is currently at alpha release stage.

[thebeaky]

Cool, thanks.

will try this, and get back with results as soon as possible.

--edit: Does puppy 4.2 retro have the latest gspca? or do these files need downloading/installing too.

[tempestuous]

No, neither Puppy 4.2 nor 4.2-retro have these two webcam drivers, they're too new.
And compiling these drivers for Puppy 4.2 is somewhat complex, that's the whole reason I pointed you towards Jaunty Puppy.

[ravensrest]

Neither upup466 or upup471 appears to contain webcam support.
BS

[tempestuous]

That's because I only recently asked Barry to enable the gspca drivers. See the Developer Blog on May 12 -
http://puppylinux.com/blog/?viewDetailed=00736

But the 2.6.29.4 kernel in the just-released alpha9 (upup-476) definitely has all the gspca drivers enabled. You can check the kernel configuration file here
http://puppylinux.com/sources/kernel-2. ... KS-UNIPROC

[thebeaky]

ok, I think I got this. but just to make sure.

jaunty puppy, is like ubuntu crossed with puppy.

The version you are directing me to contains the drivers I need for the webcams.

I have the iso file on download now, so I shall try to get those burned tomorrow.

and see if it all works.

can I use an old (current 4.2) pupsave with this?

thanks.

[tempestuous]

Yes. Yes.

can I use an old (current 4.2) pupsave with this?

No. Old pupsaves are a common source of problems when upgrading.

[thebeaky]

cool, thanks.

[thebeaky]

you said it is complicated to get the drivers needed onto puppy 4.2

but I cannot get jaunty to start up. It shows the boot options, but no further. it just hangs, with a flashing underscore.

how complicated is it, I realise I am quite the newbie. but I should like to learn.

[moogsydodong]

hi thebeaky...

the latest jaunty puppy has booting issues...
barry posted 3 versions...

upup-476-IDE.iso
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/dis ... 76-IDE.iso

upup-476-SCSI.iso
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/dis ... 6-SCSI.iso

upup-476.iso
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/dis ... up-476.iso

try those 3 and see what works for you...

I have compiled the gspca once but didn't know how to make it into a .pet

[thebeaky]

Thanks,

I've tried 2, don't see any harm in trying the third. (apart from the 2rmb for the cd.)

also for the gspca, Ill see if I can play with it for a while.

many thanks.

[thebeaky]

I couldnt find a readme on it, should I just put this with the other, replace the old one, or in a bin r lib directory?

thanks

[tempestuous]

I have compiled the gspca once but didn't know how to make it into a .pet

From which source code did you compile that driver? If it's from here
http://mxhaard.free.fr/download.html
then there's no point, since Puppy 4.1/4.2 already contains this exact driver.
But that version of the gspca driver is almost 18 months old anyway, and I have already explained that thebeaky's two webcams require the very latest gspca drivers, which are available only in recent kernels, or from linuxtv.org development source code.

[tempestuous]

you said it is complicated to get the drivers needed onto puppy 4.2
how complicated is it, I realise I am quite the newbie. but I should like to learn.

You would need:
- the developer tools (devx) package
- Puppy-compatible kernel source, from
http://puppylinux.ca/puppyfiles/sources ... _mt.tar.gz
- the latest v4l-dvb source code, from
http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb
Click on "tags" then "tip" then "bz2".

[thebeaky]

The driver is exactly the same size I figure that is a key indicator, and it didnt work so thats another.

but, I was only guessing how to deal, and put the gspca.KO where the old one used to be.

didnt seem to change anything,
thanks

anyhow though.

[thebeaky]

oooh, so I just saw the how to there, I was hoping to try to get developing anyhow, so I will try that.

thanks tempestuos.

[thebeaky]

hey, so I got some of it working.

can compile and run c code

found the make file in the makefile in the driver section ran make, but had errors based on not finding files.
/lib/modules/build/.config at ./scripts/make_kconfig.pl line 32 <IN> line 4,

where was I supposed to put these build files? I tried putting a symbolic link to the extracted files ( didnt want to actually put them in the pupsave).