Logitech Quick Cam on Ubuntu 8.04

"I really would like to stay with Linux, but I am afraid the if i cant configure the camera I am gonna have to go back to that other software."

That is blackmail!

I use a Logitech Quick Cam IM which works perfectly.

Perhaps you could try to word your request in a more sympathetic manner.

Typing "quick cam connect" into the search bar in Synaptic yielded the following results:

      gqcam for GTK webcam control and qcam for quick cam image grabber.

Since you are new to Ubuntu, this is what I did to find those files:

Go to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager, enter your password when prompted.
Look for the binocular icon and click on that to open a search screen. Type quick cam connect and then press the search button.

As I mentioned, my Logitech Quickcam IM works perfectly (out of the box) in Camorama, in Skype and in Ekiga.

Andre, my comment about going back to that other software was not meant to be blackmail. I have put a lot of time in to solving this problem, and I rely on using my camera for meetings. I like what I have seen on Ubunto and how it works with my system. I have only this and another problem to figure out and have all my functionality that I had with that other O/S. I want to keep this O/S, and that is why I am putting the time in.

I appreciate what ever help comes my way...

Moving on to the issue. I did what you said regarding accessing the Synaptic Package Manager. Very cool by the way. I used it to install the 2 packages that came up when i used the search tool. I rebooted my computer, and tried Camorama. It still did not work.

Camorama gives me the error "Could not connect to Video Device (/dev/video0). Please check Connection".

Thanks again, please keep sending me suggestions to try.

Diplomatone

Thank you for that clarification, Diplomatone.

Does the web cam work? Can you try another USB port?

The following URL gives information about Logitech web cams:

       https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsMultimediaWebCamerasLogitech

You could try "cheese". Open a terminal window and type sudo apt-get install cheese.

I believe the web cam does work. It is new, and another machine I have (that has that other O/S) recognizes it. I used a USB thumb drive to verify that the USB ports do work.

I went to the web sit that you refered to. It says that the GSPCA driver is required. I have down loaded the driver, and have tried installing it several times. I can only think that I am doing something wrong. I can't seem to get the headers for my kernel installed, and actually I dont know how to determine what version of the kernel I have. At any rate I could not get the driver installed.

I have installed cheese, and it does not work either, just shows the colored bars and static.

Whats the next move?

Diplomatone

Your kernels are listed on the GRUB boot screen with the topmost being the currently used kernel. You can also determine your kernels via a terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) by typing "ls /boot" (without quotes) and pressing Enter.

The method for installing kernel headers is (in a terminal):

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

If you need to compile the headers:

sudo aptitude install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential

About Cheese, it does not work for me either but I thought that it might for you.

This URL may provide some more information if needed: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Webcam

This is what I got when typing "ls /boot". Doesnt mean much to me because I dont know what to look for yet. Do you see anything out of the ordinary Andre?

abi-2.6.24-16-generic initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
abi-2.6.24-19-generic initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic.bak
config-2.6.24-16-generic memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.24-19-generic System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
grub System.map-2.6.24-19-generic
initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic

I am gonna try your instructions for the headers right now, and put another post when i am done.

Thanks again,

Diplomatone

Below is the Terminal reaction from installing the headers and compiling the headers. I installed headers before, but never compiled them. Do you have to compile every time you install a driver? At any rate it looks to have completed with out problems, do you agree?

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
[sudo] password for kevin:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initializing package states... Done
Writing extended state information... Done
Building tag database... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
Writing extended state information... Done
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done

Ok...I will try an install the GSPCA driver again. Maybe me not compiling was the problem.

Thanks again, you help is really usefull to a newb like me.

Diplomatone.

I typed ls /dev/audio* and got "/dev/audio", and "/dev/audio1". Which seems good because I have audio coming from my speakers.

I typed ls /dev/video* and got nothing. Isnt this an important part of making the web cam work?

Thanks again, I feel we are getting closer.

Diplomatone

Ok... I unplugged the camera, and plugged in a microsoft (I dont like that word) camera. Then I did the command ls /dev/video*. To my surprose /dev/video0 showed up. I started the Camorama, and it worked, its a crappy picture, but it worked. Same thing with Cheese. I dont know why the logitech quick cam connect didnt though. It is brand new.

I am thinking of taking the Logitech camera back to the store. What camera would you suggest I get to replace it?

Thanks again, we are approaching the finish line.

Diplomatone

Just to conclude this string, I took back the Logitech Quickcam Connect and got a Logetech Quickcam 9000 pro. It does work and provides excellent picture. All I have to do now is get the mic working, but I am going to open a different string for that question. Thank you much for all of your help.

Diplomatone

Even tho you already returned to offending hardware, I will post an answer to the question. The GSPCA driver interfaces with the V4l system in the kernel. The /dev/video0 is for the V4L2 system in the kernel. So, for instance, when you set up the webcam in Ekiga, you need to use the V4L system. In Ekiga, the default id to look for the /dev/video device. You vneed to escape out of the configuration wizard in use preferences to set it manually. When you switch to the V4L, your camera model will show up.

I was havng all kinds of problems with mine, but the new release .8 and .10 seems to have fixed the problems I was having. I did not have to do any kind of coding or change anything. It just now works. Of course I downloaded and installed all the Web Cam types, then de installed them all, except for Cheese. Seems Cheese it the only application that will work right. Now I can send and receive all the Web Cam stuff. I have an x64 and a x32, both working just right.
  I would suggest that you try installing all the Web Cam stuff using Synaptic Package Manager, search for webcam and web cam, install all, then open Cheese see if it works, if not, do a slow removal of the Applications you just installed. This is how I did it. When Cheese start working I stoped. There are some Lib files that must be installed, but by which application I do not know. It is strange, but it works great. I am sure this is not the correct way, but if it works go with it.

CWcasey thats good input. I will try that next. Currently my problems are around getting the camera to work with AMSN. Me and my friends do a conference call twice a month, but I can with this device because the mic doesnt work for some reason with AMSN, but the picture is fine.