TrustWebcamWB-1400T with Ubuntu 16.04: camera with bad quality and impossible to change parameters
Hello, I am trying to use an old camera with Ubuntu 16.04. Camera is recognised, but the images in e.g. Chees are very bad quality.
The camera should be supported - reports on this have been filed ( https:/
The link above suggests to change some module parameters, but I cannot see the parameters in my Ubuntu installation,
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- Ubuntu gspca Edit question
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#1 |
:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 003: ID 0b97:7772 O2 Micro, Inc. OZ776 CCID Smartcard Reader
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0b97:7761 O2 Micro, Inc. Oz776 1.1 Hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 006: ID 093a:2468 Pixart Imaging, Inc. SoC PC-Camera
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
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#2 |
[116047.125196] usb 4-1: New USB device found, idVendor=093a, idProduct=2468
[116047.125223] usb 4-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[116047.125229] usb 4-1: Product: CIF Single Chip
[116047.125234] usb 4-1: Manufacturer: Pixart Imaging Inc.
[116047.128462] gspca_main: pac207-2.14.0 probing 093a:2468
[116047.133365] input: pac207 as /devices/
~$ LD_PRELOAD=
--- Opening /dev/video0...
Trying source module v4l2...
/dev/video0 opened.
No input was specified, using the first.
Available Controls Current Value Range
------------------ ------------- -----
Error reading value of control 'User Controls'.
VIDIOC_G_CTRL: Permission denied
User Controls N/A [Unknown Control Type]
Brightness 46 (18%) 0 - 255
White Balance, Automatic True True | False
Gamma 2561 (82%) 500 - 3000
Exposure 5 (2%) 3 - 90
Gain, Automatic True True | False
Gain 7 (22%) 0 - 31
Horizontal Flip False True | False
Vertical Flip False True | False
Adjusting resolution from 384x288 to 352x288.
--- Capturing frame...
Captured frame in 0.00 seconds.
--- Processing captured image...
There are unsaved changes to the image.
:~$ modinfo gspca_main
filename: /lib/modules/
version: 2.14.0
license: GPL
description: GSPCA USB Camera Driver
author: Jean-François Moine <http://
srcversion: 4AFBA15983E4EBA
depends: videodev,
retpoline: Y
intree: Y
name: gspca_main
vermagic: 4.15.0-91-generic SMP mod_unload
parm: debug:1:probe 2:config 3:stream 4:frame 5:packet 6:usbi 7:usbo (int)
~$ modinfo gspca_pac207
filename: /lib/modules/
license: GPL
description: Pixart PAC207
author: Hans de Goede <email address hidden>
srcversion: C537B42953DD33D
alias: usb:v2001pF115d
alias: usb:v145Fp013Ad
alias: usb:v093Ap2476d
alias: usb:v093Ap2474d
alias: usb:v093Ap2472d
alias: usb:v093Ap2471d
alias: usb:v093Ap2470d
alias: usb:v093Ap2468d
alias: usb:v093Ap2464d
alias: usb:v093Ap2463d
alias: usb:v093Ap2461d
alias: usb:v093Ap2460d
alias: usb:v041Ep4028d
depends: gspca_main,videodev
retpoline: Y
intree: Y
name: gspca_pac207
vermagic: 4.15.0-91-generic SMP mod_unload
parm: led_invert:Invert led (int)
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#3 |
:~$ lsmod | grep gspca
gspca_pac207 16384 2
gspca_main 36864 3 gspca_pac207
v4l2_common 16384 1 gspca_main
videodev 188416 5 gspca_main,
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#4 |
"Error reading value of control 'User Controls'.
VIDIOC_G_CTRL: Permission denied"
For diagnostic purposes, what is the output of the commands
uname -a
lsb_release -crid
ls -l /dev/video0
groups
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#5 |
$ uname -a
Linux gab-TECRA-A10 4.15.0-91-generic #92~16.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Fri Feb 28 14:57:22 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
:~$ lsb_release -crid
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04.6 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
~$ ls -l /dev/video0
crw-rw----+ 1 root video 81, 0 mar 31 11:56 /dev/video0
~$ groups
gab adm cdrom sudo dip plugdev lpadmin sambashare
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#6 |
You are not member of the "video" group which causes access problems.
Issue the command
sudo usermod -a -G video gab
The log off and log on again and finally try accessing the camera.
Is there an improvement?
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#7 |
done
~$ groups
gab adm cdrom sudo dip video plugdev lpadmin sambashare
no improvement - the point is the quality, and the impossibility to perform the setting mentioned here https:/
I can (and could ) see images (bad quality) in vlc, mplayer, just to mention the last two I checked
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#8 |
What output do you now receive for the command
LD_PRELOAD=
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#9 |
I would say - same as before
here it is
~$ LD_PRELOAD=
--- Opening /dev/video0...
Trying source module v4l2...
/dev/video0 opened.
No input was specified, using the first.
Available Controls Current Value Range
------------------ ------------- -----
Error reading value of control 'User Controls'.
VIDIOC_G_CTRL: Permission denied
User Controls N/A [Unknown Control Type]
Brightness 46 (18%) 0 - 255
White Balance, Automatic True True | False
Gamma 1500 (40%) 500 - 3000
Exposure 10 (8%) 3 - 90
Gain, Automatic True True | False
Gain 24 (77%) 0 - 31
Horizontal Flip False True | False
Vertical Flip False True | False
Adjusting resolution from 384x288 to 352x288.
--- Capturing frame...
Captured frame in 0.00 seconds.
--- Processing captured image...
There are unsaved changes to the image.
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#10 |
This is unexpected.
What output do you receive for
sudo LD_PRELOAD=
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#11 |
this question is similar to https:/
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#12 |
~$ sudo LD_PRELOAD=
--- Opening /dev/video0...
Trying source module v4l2...
/dev/video0 opened.
No input was specified, using the first.
Available Controls Current Value Range
------------------ ------------- -----
Error reading value of control 'User Controls'.
VIDIOC_G_CTRL: Permission denied
User Controls N/A [Unknown Control Type]
Brightness 46 (18%) 0 - 255
White Balance, Automatic True True | False
Gamma 1500 (40%) 500 - 3000
Exposure 10 (8%) 3 - 90
Gain, Automatic True True | False
Gain 24 (77%) 0 - 31
Horizontal Flip False True | False
Vertical Flip False True | False
Adjusting resolution from 384x288 to 352x288.
--- Capturing frame...
Captured frame in 0.00 seconds.
--- Processing captured image...
There are unsaved changes to the image.
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#13 |
Ok. No idea why there's a "Permission denied" error and how to tackle it.
Now back to your question about options.
In https:/
You are using gspca_pac207 and gspca_main modules which apparently do not know such parameters (see your modinfo output)
Have you tried changing the parameters when starting fswebcam?
e.g. something like
... fswebcam -d /dev/video0 --set Gamma=600 --set Brightness=127
(see the manpages for fswebcam)
Another idea: Have you tried with a newer Ubuntu release or with the HWE kernel?
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#14 |
:~$ LD_PRELOAD=
--- Opening /dev/video0...
Trying source module v4l2...
/dev/video0 opened.
No input was specified, using the first.
Setting Brightness to 50 (19%).
Setting Gamma to 1000 (20%).
Setting Exposure to 80 (88%).
Adjusting resolution from 384x288 to 352x288.
--- Capturing frame...
Captured frame in 0.00 seconds.
--- Processing captured image...
Writing JPEG image to 'test'.
If one tries to set the parameters listed in the wiki, they are ignored.
No, I haven't tried a newer release, nor the HWE kernel. Should I?
Do they include a newer version of the gspca suite? the issue seems to be there - there seems to be a regression between the module of 2007 mentioned in the wiki and the current one. Oder?
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#15 |
does this help?
:~$ v4l2-compliance
Driver Info:
Driver name : pac207
Card type : CIF Single Chip
Bus info : usb-0000:00:1a.1-1
Driver version: 4.15.18
Capabilities : 0x85200001
Video Capture
Read/Write
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
Device Capabilities
Device Caps : 0x05200001
Video Capture
Read/Write
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
Compliance test for device /dev/video0 (not using libv4l2):
Required ioctls:
test VIDIOC_QUERYCAP: OK
Allow for multiple opens:
test second video open: OK
test VIDIOC_QUERYCAP: OK
test VIDIOC_
Debug ioctls:
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_LOG_STATUS: OK (Not Supported)
Input ioctls:
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_ENUMAUDIO: OK (Not Supported)
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_G/S_AUDIO: OK (Not Supported)
Inputs: 1 Audio Inputs: 0 Tuners: 0
Output ioctls:
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_ENUMAUDOUT: OK (Not Supported)
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_G/S_AUDOUT: OK (Not Supported)
Outputs: 0 Audio Outputs: 0 Modulators: 0
Input/Output configuration ioctls:
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_G/S_EDID: OK (Not Supported)
Test input 0:
Control ioctls:
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_QUERYCTRL: OK
test VIDIOC_G/S_CTRL: OK
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_
Standard Controls: 5 Private Controls: 0
Format ioctls:
warn: v4l2-test-
warn: v4l2-test-
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_G/S_PARM: OK
test VIDIOC_G_FBUF: OK (Not Supported)
test VIDIOC_G_FMT: OK
test VIDIOC_TRY_FMT: OK
test VIDIOC_S_FMT: OK
test VIDIOC_
test Cropping: OK (Not Supported)
test Composing: OK (Not Supported)
test Scaling: OK (Not Supported)
Codec ioctls:
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_G_ENC_INDEX: OK (Not Supported)
test VIDIOC_
Buffer ioctls:
fail: v4l2-test-
fail: v4l2-test-
fail: v4l2-test-
test VIDIOC_
test VIDIOC_EXPBUF: OK (Not Supported)
Test input 0:
Total: 42, Succeeded: 41, Failed: 1, Warnings: 2
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#16 |
I just tried verifying, and it seems that even the newest version of the kernel packages has the same version of the gspca software as your current kernel. Upgrading will most probably not help at all.
As I already said: the current driver for your device does not have the same options as the old (obsolete) driver. I would not call that a regression. It is just different.
It seems that you can only set the parameters that the newer module or your video application can understand. Have you already experimented with different values for the options that are available?
According to the manpages, you can specify using v4l1 or v4l2 also together with the video device, e.g. -d v4l1:/dev/video0 or -d v4l2:/dev/video0
Have you already tried this (and also tried omitting the LD_PRELOAD=... setting)?
If all these suggestions do not help, then I cannot help further. I am sorry.
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#17 |
First, thanks for having checked the new kernels, and for the prompt support.
I tried experimenting a bit - v4l2:dev/... and so on, but no success.
Do you think it makes sense to test the procedure mentioned in the wiki?
btw - I don't mean to be harsh, it is just very frustrating to read that it used to work - I will not insist in the word "regression", but it is definitely a step backwards
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#18 |
https:/
States:
USB webcam with 352 x 288 hardware resolution
Do yes the image will be bad quality. Its a low resolution camera
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#19 |
Even says it in your own output:
Horizontal Flip False True | False
Vertical Flip False True | False
Adjusting resolution from 384x288 to 352x288.
--- Capturing frame...
Captured frame in 0.00 seconds.
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#20 |
What exactly is your goal?
What is the problem with the images that you receive from your camera? (blur, wrong colors, ...?)
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#21 |
The goal is to the use the webcam in Ubuntu.
Currently, it delivers very bad quality images in terms of blur and colours - is there a way to upload a sample here?
The quality is so low that it cannot be used - one cannot recognise the objects. Nothing compared to the quality of the pics in the wiki mentioned above.
Reading comments #18 and #19 does not help much. Of course the camera is "as it is" (low quality), but in windows it works at its possibilities, and it used to work in Ubuntu as well.
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#22 |
answers.
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#23 |
In short, it's a poor webcam. It's resolution is low
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#24 |
actionparnsnip - it seems you are not reading the comments above. As I wrote:
"Of course the camera is "as it is" (low quality), but in windows it works at its possibilities, and it used to work in Ubuntu as well.".
To clarify further: it is not working at its possibilities.
If you can't help or provide support, it is OK, but please refrain from useless tautological (and nearly insulting) comments!
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#25 |
Hi Gabriele,
did you fix this problem at the end? i have exactly the same problem :-
did'nt find any fix on the web. tried also with different version of the kernel (plus recompiling it) with any success.
i pretty sure that the problem comes from the driver. the last chance is to compile the driver and substitute it, i guess. what do you think about?
many thanks.
Can you help with this problem?
Provide an answer of your own, or ask gabriele for more information if necessary.