Problem getting a Philips webcam working on Debian Lenny

Count Zero · 01-04-2009, 11:54 AM

Hi all,

Having some problems with a webcam, Philips SPC 620NC running on Debian Lenny 2.6.26-1-amd64. It shows upp nicely with lsusb and dmesg gives me the company and model ID. It is suported by gspca. I have an Asus motherboard. Also of interest might be that I have an Asus tuner card in the computer (as this, too, shows up as a video capture device).

I've installed skype and ekiga and they both detect the webcam. In skype, I can see it working when I try the "test video" alternative but when I try a testcall a get "audio playback problems". In ekiga I can't get a video. (In both programs I've chosen the usb webcam as capture device).

I tried installing the gspc-module as source and compiled it successfully using module-assistant. I doesn't add the module but I've tried adding it manually and it adds fine. However, in skype and ekiga there isn't any difference in results with or without the module added.

I'm at a loss here. Video works in skype, clearly shows that the system finds and support at least video. I remember reading somewhere - maybe on this forum - that the sound module needed to be added after gspca module but now I can't find it. [slaps forehead hard] Still, in skype I can get a video *without* the gspca module loaded so I don't know it this is relevant.

I've tried to find extensive information on various forums and using google.com/linux but the conventional wisdom seem to be that if the cam is supported by the gspca package then you just compile, modprobe and are ready to go. I really don't know where to go and would appreciate any and all help I can get on this.

Here's some relevant output (maybe a bit much but I'm not sure what to look for):

lsusb: (Device 003 is the webcam)

Code:

Bus 002 Device 004: ID 059b:0277 Iomega Corp. 
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0471:0333 Philips 
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 059b:005d Iomega Corp. Mass Storage Device
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0d8c:0201 C-Media Electronics, Inc. CM6501
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

dmesg | grep usb: (I guess the five last lines here is of importance but not sure how to solve this)

Code:

[    0.229849] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
[    0.229907] usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
[    0.229947] usbcore: registered new device driver usb
[    1.526228] usb usb1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[    1.628162] usb usb1: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0001
[    1.628166] usb usb1: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
[    1.628168] usb usb1: Product: OHCI Host Controller
[    1.628170] usb usb1: Manufacturer: Linux 2.6.26-1-amd64 ohci_hcd
[    1.628172] usb usb1: SerialNumber: 0000:00:02.0
[    1.640143] usb usb2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[    1.744206] usb usb2: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0002
[    1.744210] usb usb2: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
[    1.744212] usb usb2: Product: EHCI Host Controller
[    1.744214] usb usb2: Manufacturer: Linux 2.6.26-1-amd64 ehci_hcd
[    1.744216] usb usb2: SerialNumber: 0000:00:02.1
[    2.380214] usb 2-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 2
[    2.573676] usb 2-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[    2.573870] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=059b, idProduct=005d
[    2.573872] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=2
[    2.573874] usb 2-1: Product: USB 2.0 Storage Device
[    2.573876] usb 2-1: SerialNumber: 01510482400000025121
[    2.812008] usb 2-2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[    2.950303] usb 2-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[    2.951832] usb 2-2: New USB device found, idVendor=0471, idProduct=0333
[    2.951834] usb 2-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
[    2.951836] usb 2-2: Product: USB Video Camera
[    3.188008] usb 2-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[    3.321678] usb 2-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[    3.322228] usb 2-4: New USB device found, idVendor=059b, idProduct=0277
[    3.322231] usb 2-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=10, Product=11, SerialNumber=5
[    3.322234] usb 2-4: Product: External HD
[    3.322235] usb 2-4: Manufacturer: Iomega
[    3.322237] usb 2-4: SerialNumber: 9F4FFFFFFFFF
[    3.560695] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
[    3.562913] usb-storage: device found at 2
[    3.562916] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[    3.562926] usb-storage: device found at 4
[    3.562927] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[    3.864006] usb 1-7: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 2
[    4.072031] usb 1-7: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[    4.077232] usb 1-7: New USB device found, idVendor=0d8c, idProduct=0201
[    4.077236] usb 1-7: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[    4.077238] usb 1-7: Product: PnP Audio Device        
[    8.560180] usb-storage: device scan complete
[    8.560910] usb-storage: device scan complete
[    9.920302] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
[   10.247410] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
[ 9918.872065] usb 2-4: usbfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed cmd lsusb rqt 128 rq 6 len 4 ret -110
[ 9932.972112] usb 2-4: usbfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed cmd lsusb rqt 128 rq 6 len 4 ret -110
[ 9947.684154] usb 2-4: usbfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed cmd lsusb rqt 128 rq 6 len 4 ret -110
[10003.596085] usb 2-4: usbfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed cmd lsusb rqt 128 rq 6 len 4 ret -110
[10042.892085] usb 2-4: usbfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed cmd lsusb rqt 128 rq 6 len 4 ret -110

lsmod (saa7134 is the aforementioned Asus tuner card)

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
gspca                 668880  0 
ppdev                  11656  0 
lp                     14724  0 
ipv6                  288328  27 
nls_utf8                6272  1 
ntfs                  188416  1 
nls_base               12932  2 nls_utf8,ntfs
fuse                   53184  1 
nvidia               8105072  24 
loop                   19468  0 
tda1004x               19844  1 
saa7134_dvb            24844  0 
firmware_class         12544  2 tda1004x,saa7134_dvb
videobuf_dvb            9604  1 saa7134_dvb
dvb_core               82740  2 saa7134_dvb,videobuf_dvb
sg                     36448  0 
sr_mod                 19652  0 
parport_pc             31016  1 
parport                41776  3 ppdev,lp,parport_pc
tda827x                14468  2 
psmouse                42268  0 
tda8290                18052  1 
pcspkr                  7040  0 
serio_raw               9860  0 
k8temp                  9216  0 
tuner                  29260  0 
saa7134               152156  1 saa7134_dvb
v4l2_common            16384  2 tuner,saa7134
videobuf_dma_sg        17412  2 saa7134_dvb,saa7134
videobuf_core          23300  3 videobuf_dvb,saa7134,videobuf_dma_sg
ir_kbd_i2c             12944  1 saa7134
ir_common              47108  2 saa7134,ir_kbd_i2c
tveeprom               18052  1 saa7134
snd_usb_audio          91296  0 
uvcvideo               55560  0 
snd_pcm_oss            41760  0 
snd_mixer_oss          18816  1 snd_pcm_oss
compat_ioctl32         12288  3 gspca,saa7134,uvcvideo
videodev               35840  5 gspca,tuner,saa7134,uvcvideo,compat_ioctl32
snd_pcm                81672  2 snd_usb_audio,snd_pcm_oss
v4l1_compat            17284  2 uvcvideo,videodev
snd_page_alloc         13072  1 snd_pcm
snd_usb_lib            20224  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_seq_dummy           7428  0 
snd_hwdep              12040  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_seq_oss            33152  0 
snd_seq_midi           11072  0 
snd_rawmidi            26784  2 snd_usb_lib,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event     11904  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                54304  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer              25744  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device         11668  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd                    63688  10 snd_usb_audio,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_hwdep,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore              12064  1 snd
button                 11680  0 
i2c_nforce2            10752  0 
i2c_core               27936  11 nvidia,tda1004x,saa7134_dvb,tda827x,tda8290,tuner,saa7134,v4l2_common,ir_kbd_i2c,tveeprom,i2c_nforce2
evdev                  14208  5 
ext3                  125072  7 
jbd                    51240  1 ext3
mbcache                12804  1 ext3
ide_cd_mod             36360  0 
cdrom                  37928  2 sr_mod,ide_cd_mod
sd_mod                 29376  12 
amd74xx                13448  0 [permanent]
usb_storage            94400  1 
ide_pci_generic         9220  0 [permanent]
ide_core              128284  3 ide_cd_mod,amd74xx,ide_pci_generic
sata_nv                27528  8 
ohci1394               32564  0 
ieee1394               93816  1 ohci1394
forcedeth              54032  0 
ata_generic            10116  0 
libata                165472  2 sata_nv,ata_generic
scsi_mod              160760  5 sg,sr_mod,sd_mod,usb_storage,libata
dock                   14112  1 libata
ehci_hcd               36108  0 
ohci_hcd               25092  0 
thermal                22688  2 
processor              42304  1 thermal
fan                     9352  0 
thermal_sys            17728  3 thermal,processor,fan

lsmod | grep gspca

Code:

gspca                 668880  0 
compat_ioctl32         12288  3 gspca,saa7134,uvcvideo
videodev               35840  5 gspca,tuner,saa7134,uvcvideo,compat_ioctl32

arecord -l

Code:

**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Camera [USB Video Camera], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: default [PnP Audio Device        ], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

farslayer · 01-05-2009, 09:49 AM

I see the uvcvideo dirver is loaded as well, which I'm going to guess is the module your USB Video camera is using.. since the camera was working before you compiled and install gspca.

modinfo uvcvideo

I think snd_usb_audio is the webcam sound..

Count Zero · 01-05-2009, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the reply.

modinfo uvcvideo yields this:

Code:

filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.26-1-amd64/kernel/drivers/media/video/uvc/uvcvideo.ko
version:        v0.1.0
license:        GPL
description:    USB Video Class driver
author:         Laurent Pinchart <laurent.pinchart@skynet.be>
srcversion:     678EBBA6AC10A8DF514BB38
alias:          usb:v*p*d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v5986p0200d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v5986p0141d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v5986p0102d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v5986p0101d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v5986p0100d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v1C4Fp3000d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v19ABp1000d00*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v19ABp1000d01[0-1]*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v19ABp1000d012[0-6]dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v18CDpCAFEd*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v174Fp8A33d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v174Fp5212d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v0E8Dp0004d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v090CpB371d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v05E3p0505d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v05ACp8501d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v046Dp08C7d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v046Dp08C6d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v046Dp08C5d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v046Dp08C3d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v046Dp08C2d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v046Dp08C1d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v045Ep0723d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v045Ep00F8d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v041Ep4057d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
alias:          usb:v0402p5606d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00*
depends:        videodev,v4l1-compat,compat_ioctl32
vermagic:       2.6.26-1-amd64 SMP mod_unload modversions 
parm:           quirks:Forced device quirks (uint)
parm:           trace:Trace level bitmask (uint)

snd_usb_audio is probably webcam sound but I do have an external CD-burner on usb as well, could it be that and that the cam isn't supported?

regards,

farslayer · 01-05-2009, 03:07 PM

A search for the Phillips USB Camera Linux is what gave me the uvcvideo and snd_usb_audio module names..

0471:0333 Philips SPC 620NC Philips
http://linux-uvc.berlios.de/

2 Starting at version 2.6.22, the Linux kernel includes a USB audio bug fix which triggers a (possibly identical to the above) bug in first and second generation Logitech webcams. See the Linux UVC wiki for a workaround.

Count Zero · 01-07-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farslayer

A search for the Phillips USB Camera Linux is what gave me the uvcvideo and snd_usb_audio module names..

0471:0333 Philips SPC 620NC Philips
http://linux-uvc.berlios.de/

2 Starting at version 2.6.22, the Linux kernel includes a USB audio bug fix which triggers a (possibly identical to the above) bug in first and second generation Logitech webcams. See the Linux UVC wiki for a workaround.

Yay! That was the page I referred to in my first post, where I had read that the sound needed to get loaded first although Berlios lists my webcam as working. Still, it's was worth a shot and the workaround did the trick.

What I did was actually a variant of their work-around. I removed the uvcvideo and snd_usb_audio (simple modprobe) and then added snd_usb_audio again (it might have been sufficient to just let it remain but that's how I did it) and then re-pluggged the webcam and Viola! I have sound!

Thanks a bunch, I really appreciate the time and effort you took to help out.

Best regards
CZ

farslayer · 01-07-2009, 03:46 PM

Glad youy managed to get it all sorted out

Count Zero · 01-11-2009, 02:54 PM

It seems that the webcam has raised other issues.

Sound in flashplugin died. Couldn't for the life of me figure out why as it has worked flawless witth the plugin from the Debian Multimedia repository. I tried re-installing and I tried a bunch of them (media repository, nspluginwrapper and the alpha from adobe) but sound in flash was dead no matter what I used. Then I figured it might have something to do with the webcam, seeing that it adds a sound module and, well, sound in 64-bit flash plugins isn't the paragon of stability, When I unplugged the webcam and rebooted sound in flash was back on.

Also, my Xerox phaser 6110, which is connected via USB, also died on me at about the same time. It's still detected alright, I can see it in localhost:631 and the jobs get sent to it but they are never finished, just queued. This issue hasn't been solved by disconnecting the the webcam and rebooting but considering it stopped working when I was mucking about with the webcam, my guess is that the issues are connected, though I don't know how.

Anyway, I'm mainly posting this as a heads-up to anyone trouble-shooting the same webcam as I did but if/when I do find the solution I'll be sure to post it.

Needless to say, I'm sure, I'll gladly accept any and all ideas on how to solve this.

Best regards
/CZ

ps: On the upside, I now have a native 64-bit flash plugin. Yay. Things are shaping up on the 64-bit front. ds.

EDIT 12-01-09: I just reinstalled the printer and it seem to work just fine now. I'll try to reinstall the webcam in the comning days just to see if this weird effect is reproduced. I'll post back any findings.