Ubuntu

webcam error - ov511.c: No decompressor available

Asked by Miguel Gaspar

product: Philips (ov518-based) ToUcam 720k webcam
problem: not working, altough detected correctly.
details: module ov511 is loaded when the camera is plugged in, detected as an ov518 chip, detected and enabled decompressor, but when triyng to fetch data this message shows up in the syslog:
'no decompressor available'.
This issue has popped up in the ubuntu foruns and elsewhere. There is some confusion, because there are different models of philips webcam, several different modules (pwc, ov511) and different versions. There where some issues with pwc and pwcx (?) maintainer, and the kernel people. Also, regarding ov511, I don't understand if it is compiled in the kernel or not, and if it is, what version?
This is a popular webcam, and there are some other manufacturer's models with the same problem.

Here's an extract from syslog:
<code>
localhost kernel [4749579.795000] Linux video capture interface: v1.00
localhost kernel [4749579.871000] usbcore: registered new driver ov511
localhost kernel [4749579.871000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: v1.64 for Linux 2.5 : ov511 USB Camera Driver
localhost kernel [4749732.251000] usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
localhost kernel [4749732.344000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: USB OV518 video device found
localhost kernel [4749732.346000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: Device revision 1
localhost kernel [4749732.357000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: Compression required with OV518...enabling
localhost kernel [4749733.712000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: Sensor is an OV6630
localhost kernel [4749733.920000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: Device at usb-0000:00:1d.0-1 registered to minor 0
localhost usb.agent[23606] ov511: already loaded
localhost kernel [4749797.375000] drivers/usb/media/ov511.c: No decompressor available
</code>

This issue was found in hoary and in breezy.

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Revision history for this message
Mike Perry (mike.perry) said : 		#1

Hi there,
I think I might have found the answer for you on a french ubuntu website:
http://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?pid=134046

Unfortunatly I do not speak french and the babelfish only works so much. It looks like it might be a problem with a ov51x kernel module.

Revision history for this message
Loïc Corbasson (cnb) said : 		#2

In the french forum above, they suggest to try the following commands:
1. load the module (should be done automagically when plugging in the cam):
$ sudo modprobe ov51x
2. load the proprietary decompressor:
$ sudo modprobe ov519_decomp

Does it work for you?

Revision history for this message
Gabriel Bauman (gabrielbauman) said : 		#3

I had the same issue for a long time. The problem is that the decompressor code is non-free and cannot legally be included in the kernel.

The solution is to build ov511-source. There is an automated program to help you with this called "EasyCam" that worked for me.

Add "deb http://blognux.free.fr/debian unstable main" to your APT sources, then run "apt-get update && apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`easycam2". There should then be an icon under System->Administration to install the webcam drivers. You'll need to run it every time you upgrade your kernel.

Good luck.

Revision history for this message
Ubuntu User (anotherubuntuuser) said : 		#4

Miguel-

It appears that your request has been answered. Please consider closing this ticket as answered. This page includes useful information on managing your support requests: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SupportRequests

Thanks

Jim Jones

Revision history for this message
Torsten Krah (tkrah) said : 		#5

This source will help with this problem, as the ov511 one gives me OOPs and a NULL pointer kernel dereference bug.

http://www.rastageeks.org/ov51x-jpeg/index.php/Main_Page

Revision history for this message
Howard Kayle (tmspeedtests) said (last edit ): 		#16

The following commands should be tried, according to the French forum mentioned above:
When plugging in the cam, the module should automatically be loaded.
modprobe ov51x with sudo
2. Start the specialised decompressor:
modprobe ov519_decomp with sudo

Do you find it effective?

Revision history for this message
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