Philips PCVC720K/40 XS ToUcam USB Webcam Support

FZ · 09-02-2003, 11:37 AM

Hi,

Does Knoppix (kernel 2.4.19-xfs) suport Philips PCVC720K/40 webcam? I've just bought one and plugged it in and since there was no pcw module in my Debian ( 2.4.18 ) I've tried to boot the machine with Knoppix to see if it works. Then in the root shell I've installed pwc and videolinux modules (usb modules were already loaded).

Then I checked /dev/video and created a symbolic link to is using the name: /dev/video0 using the command: ln -sf /dev/video0 /dev/video

Then I tried to run xawt by simply issuing its name and also using this command: xawtv -c /dev/video0

Both failed complaining that there is no such device /dev/video0

I also tried it with /dev/video but I've got the same error message.

What can be the problem? How can I troubleshoot or diagnose it? Can my webcam be problematic or what?

Hope somebody can enlighten me

**ktheking** · 09-15-2003, 10:40 AM

download latest knoppix (05/09/03 - contains kernel 2.4.22) and use gqcam (K=>Multimedia=>Graphic) to view usb webcam.
Easy as 1,2,3 .

greetzzzz,

FZ · 09-15-2003, 11:08 AM

Thanks for your reply. I decided to buy a higher model of Philips, namely PCVC 730K because it is supported by pwc since version 8.0 and since kernel version 2.4.6

I believe this model is going to run with my current KNOPPIX version (3.1).

**JoDaY** · 09-20-2003, 06:38 PM

Hi,

Originally Posted by ktheking

download latest knoppix (05/09/03 - contains kernel 2.4.22) and use gqcam (K=>Multimedia=>Graphic) to view usb webcam.
Easy as 1,2,3 .
greetzzzz,

I've tried pwc module with 3.2 (2003/06/06), and 3.2 (05/06/2003) without succes...

I've tried this on two different machine (chipset sis and via):
I've also error message in dmesg:
usb_control/bulk_msg: timeout
usbdevfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed dev 5 rqt 128 rq 6 len 490 ret -110

The mic is recognised as audio (usbaudio) but can't get /dev/audio...

I've also tried to load pwc module and videodev without result

Thanks !

**ktheking** · 09-22-2003, 04:31 PM

let me guess..
you're working an VIA chipset ?

Try your camera for a change on another chipset (or an usb controller card).

I think having both audio in and video from webcam won't work simultaniously.
For more info about usb devices check out http://www.linux-usb.org/
Maybe you stumble on site dedicated to this camera.
First check out on which chip the camera is based. Maybe you'll find a solution easier then searching on philips.

**JoDaY** · 09-22-2003, 07:06 PM

Hi,

Thanks for your response but:

let me guess..
you're working an VIA chipset ?

You needn't guessing I've wrote it...

- I know that via chipset cause sometimes some problems that's why I've tried it on another machine which has an sis chipset (cf my previous post)

- I'm not looking for philips on the web ! thanks, but I know that my camera is a pcvc720k/40 and that the module for it is pwc --> and i know that because I found it on the web site (http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/)

I think having both audio in and video from webcam won't work simultaniously.

The camera has a mic... you've sometimes sound vith video

Don't you ?

Can I ask you why you've wroted: "download latest knoppix (05/09/03 - contains kernel 2.4.22) and use gqcam (K=>Multimedia=>Graphic) to view usb webcam.
Easy as 1,2,3 . " ?

**ktheking** · 09-24-2003, 01:09 AM

Yeah the latest knoppix contains kernel above 2.4.22 which handles usb a lot (even much much better) usb then before.
So for usb issues it wouldn't hurt to use the latest kernel....

And for the tip about gqcam : I've encountered people before who had troubles with xawtv but when using gqcam they could use the webcam.
Search the knoppix site on 'gqcam' and 'webcam' . I think you will encounter similarities... .

**JoDaY** · 02-26-2004, 01:14 PM

I would thanks you for your help

At this time I've tried lot of thing in order to make this damned webcam works ...

Several kernel (2.4.20,2.4.21,2.4.22,2.4.24,2.6.0,2.6.1,2.6.2) ...

No matter it's blind

I think Philips should be write on Manufacturer's black list, developers lost too much time to find hardware caracteristics that manufacturers like Philips (ant too much others) hide.

I'm a GNU/Linux consumer and I'll never buy any other products from this firm so far It will be more cooperative...

**ktheking** · 03-01-2004, 12:45 AM

As far as I am consirned, I stopped buying (and selling) philips a long time ago. Philips went a long time ago from engeering to selling (putting labels on products that you don't manufacter) . (An old school teacher of mine was an ex-development-engineer at Philips, I got the full inside info about it from him).
I got 4 creative webcams pro (based on OV511 chipset) ,which works flawless.