videoconferencing .... where to start?

dp · 2005-01-04 21:07:05

for better communication with friends on the other side of the world, i started to think about buying a computer video camera and setting up videoconferencing

- both sides use archlinux
- both sides do not yet have the video/microphone hardware (hardware suggestions very welcome - i'm fan of logitech stuff, but the diversity of webcams is so great, i have no overview)

where to start? what webcam is usable? what app? anyone with experience? is full duplex possible using 256kbps ADSL? (mean: we see the others and they see us at the same time without trouble)

thanx in advance for any input

phrakture · 2005-01-04 22:21:23

http://www.gnomemeeting.org/

skoal · 2005-01-05 00:57:47

Well, I just got my webcam working the other day. You can see a live update of me at work here.

sarah31 · 2005-01-05 01:27:24

man don't you get tired of holding that pose from 9-5 five days a week?

dp · 2005-01-05 12:02:22

phrakture wrote:

http://www.gnomemeeting.org/

thanx ... i'll check it out ...

any hardware known to work perfectly under linux?
(like the canon lide scanner: buy, plug-in, use ;-) )

skoal · 2005-01-05 23:19:13

sarah31 wrote:

man don't you get tired of holding that pose from 9-5 five days a week?

Actually, people say I always got my "head up my ass". However, I stormed into my boss' office that day, pounding my fist on his desk for a raise. He told me, "I'll tell you where you can look for that bonus..."

skoal · 2005-01-05 23:32:52

dp wrote:

[...]any hardware known to work perfectly under linux? [...]

Actually dp, I used to have a webcam running under linux, but really didn't have any use for it. I think you mentioned "Logitech" as a good hardware choice. I had a "Logitech Quickcam (something or another)".

All I used was "xawtv", "v4l", and the "v4l-tools" packages. I believe there is a "webcam" app in the "v4l-tools" package. That was on a "2.4" kernel and I haven't compiled a "2.6" yet, but I would assume the "video for linux" module can still be built there.

Here's a good resource for your hardware decision.

dp · 2005-01-06 01:33:49

skoal wrote:

dp wrote:
[...]any hardware known to work perfectly under linux? [...]
Actually dp, I used to have a webcam running under linux, but really didn't have any use for it. I think you mentioned "Logitech" as a good hardware choice. I had a "Logitech Quickcam (something or another)".
All I used was "xawtv", "v4l", and the "v4l-tools" packages. I believe there is a "webcam" app in the "v4l-tools" package. That was on a "2.4" kernel and I haven't compiled a "2.6" yet, but I would assume the "video for linux" module can still be built there.
Here's a good resource for your hardware decision.

thanx for the link

however, if i have a look at the market here in switzerland:

http://www.toppreise.ch/index.php?k3=147&manu=&o=pa

most of the cameras are new and not yet on this list :-(

i also found this:
http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html (is this driver now in the stock kernel or does it need to be added as external pkg?)

and this:
http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/ (driver for modern logitech cams) (same here: is this driver in stock kernel, or not? anybody knows by heart? (i have no sources on the hdd atm to do make menuconfig))

as i look for cameras that should be used to communicate over long distances in a language both of the parties have as foreighn language, the video-quality should be good (to not run into situations of misunderstanding) --- what i read from most reviews, almost all cameras need a lot of light (logical with so small lenses)... but nobody gives examples and direct comparaison between models

dp · 2005-01-08 04:28:18

i found a nice piece of hardware i like:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ … 0,detail=2

... and it uses the pwc driver:
http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/

has anybody some experiences with this webcam? with this driver?

skoal · 2005-01-19 07:15:12

Hey dp, I stumbled across a resource which might interest you. Check this out: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/H … HOWTO.html

dp · 2005-01-19 18:22:19

skoal, thank you for this resource

i almost went to the store yesterday to buy the logitech quickcam notebook pro ... but then found this:

http://www.apple.com/chde/isight/
http://www.celtic-one-design.com/php/B0000AKACN.htm
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20030813.html
http://ostg.pricegrabber.com/rating_get … e=masterid
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/sightlight/

knowing that you have first to look for support in linux before buying any hardware, i searched:

http://lsight.sourceforge.net/
http://developer.apple.com/documentatio … ProgGuide/
http://www.rmatsumoto.org/camera/dc1394-ohphone.html

http://myhome.hanafos.com/~soonjp/vclinux.html

http://linuxfr.org/~luckyluke/5239.html

http://homepage.mac.com/john_kenn/video-hardsoft.html

summary:

- it should work using firewire and separate module for sound

http://www.gnomemeeting.org/index.php?r … html#AEN21

however, i have still some trouble to solve:

- the camera is expensive - i have to convince myself, that this extra is worth
- firewire in linux is tricky with udev ... especially in archlinux, where the nodes are not yet configured in udev
- i have only a 4pin firewire on the laptop and the camera uses a 6pin ... hmm ... pcmcia-firewire maybe? additional money? :-(
- how cross-compatible is gnomemeeting? (can you do videoconferencing with windows/mac users not using gnomemeeting?) have to try gnomemeeting to know for sure ...

dp · 2005-01-28 14:54:25

i use skype.org for now for phoning with people .... the webcam i will orbitain, when i0m sure what modell to buy ;-)

Arch Linux

#1 2005-01-04 21:07:05

videoconferencing .... where to start?

#2 2005-01-04 22:21:23

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#3 2005-01-05 00:57:47

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#4 2005-01-05 01:27:24

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#5 2005-01-05 12:02:22

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#6 2005-01-05 23:19:13

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#7 2005-01-05 23:32:52

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#8 2005-01-06 01:33:49

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#9 2005-01-08 04:28:18

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#10 2005-01-19 07:15:12

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#11 2005-01-19 18:22:19

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

#12 2005-01-28 14:54:25

Re: videoconferencing .... where to start?

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