Philips "Fun Cam" webcam not working

DaneM · 07-21-2005, 01:19 AM

Hello, everybody.

I just got a philips webcam from Comcast (my ISP), and Linux has been having a difficult tim with it. It shows up in lsusb as:

Code:

Bus 003 Device 004: ID 0471:0321 Philips

It shows up in cat /proc/bus/usb/devices as:

Code:

T:  Bus=03 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=01 Cnt=01 Dev#=  4 Spd=12  MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 1.10 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=0471 ProdID=0321 Rev= 1.00
S:  Product=USB camera
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=c0 MxPwr=500mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=   0 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=   0 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 1 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 128 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 2 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 256 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 3 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 384 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 4 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 512 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 5 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 680 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 6 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 800 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 7 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS= 900 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 8 #EPs= 5 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=1007 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=100ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=01(Isoc) MxPS=  16 Ivl=1ms
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms

I've tried modules se401 and pwc. I'm using kernel 2.6.11.8y on Slackware 10.1.

It's quite possible that it HAS figured it out, but that I'm not noticing the right /dev device. There is no /dev/video* in my devices directory.

Thanks in advance for your help!

--Dane

AgentDenim · 07-22-2005, 08:21 PM

Hi Dane,
Where did you get the pwc module? It hasn't been in the kernel tree to my knowledge for quite some time.
I'm currently int he process of trying to do this myself... if I get it working, I'll let you know.
One problem I noted in my searches was that people forgot to configure Video for Linux as a module or into their kernels.

- A

AgentDenim · 07-23-2005, 08:29 AM

Checking back.
I couldn't get the pwc driver to work, so I opened up the camera to get the chipset.
It's a Sonix SN9C2028 chipset.
I optimistically tried the SN9C102 driver and that doesn't work. I checked linux-usb pages and the Sonix project info for V4L2 at LinuxProjects, and it doesn't appear the SN9C2028 is supported yet.

Looks like we're stuck in the lurch out here with these funcams, unless someone else has a good idea or two.

I'll keep on researching....
- A

DaneM · 07-23-2005, 06:54 PM

http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/files/

That's the impression I got. Hopefully there will be support for it soon, or perhaps somebody else knows how to get it working.

--Dane

DaneM · 09-08-2011, 03:00 AM

I know that this is a very old post, but I've just decided to give this camera another shot, after leaving it in the closet for about 6 years...

Looks like there's a solution, now!

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-lenny-694887/

...post #5 or so.

I'll reboot into Ubuntu in the near future and see if it's working now, then post back my progress.

--Dane

DaneM · 09-09-2011, 08:01 PM

OK...so it still doesn't work out-of-the-box. I've determined that it's NOT supported by the pwc or pwcx driver modules. I suspect it's support by the gspca_sn9c20x or gspca_sn9c2028 driver modules, but I'm still wrestling with them. More updates to come.

Edit/correction: out-of-the-box, and using the gspca_sn02028 driver, the microphone works fine (or at least, it shows moving bars in the Gnome sound preferences window). Video's non-existent via the Cheese application (gstreamer-based). I'll try using another application. Also, I've tried installing libwebcam0, which isn't installed by default, but still don't have success. /dev/video0 isn't showing up at all.

Further edit: According to this page (you'll want to run it through a translator, since it's in French):

http://blognux.free.fr/Liste.txt

This chipset/camera has been supported by the sn9c2028 driver--which may or may not have become the gspca_sn9c2028 driver--since August of 2008. I've downloaded that driver, but the only thing available on its Sourceforge project site is some very old "prototype" source code with a broken Makefile. I've not yet managed to compile it. Loading the gspca_2028 driver still gives me sound, but no video. I wonder if my camera is broken/defective. That would suck.

Another edit: looks like Sonics chipsets like this one are supported through the gspca series of drivers. Unfortunately, this particular device ID, 0471:0321, is NOT supported. It's purported to be the same or a similar chipset to other ones that are supported, so I'm wondering if it's possible to "trick" the driver into trying to make it work, anyway. That's really a long shot, so I doubt I'll get this working on Linux...which is sad. I guess I should finally break down and get a supported webcam. :-(

parkerlreed · 02-09-2017, 08:32 AM

I know this is a very old thread but I just tried forcing the gspca_sn9c2028 module to match with the USB ID and it works but fails on video initialization.

Code:

# modprobe gspca_sn9c2028
# echo "0471 0321" > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/sn9c2028/new_id
[ 1611.429971] usb 2-2: new full-speed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
[ 1611.561775] gspca_main: sn9c2028-2.14.0 probing 0471:0321
[ 1627.055203] gspca_sn9c2028: Starting unknown camera, please report this

The unknown webcam is when I try to load it in a V4L viewer. As stated this particular device probably just isn't compatible with the existing driver.

John VV · 02-09-2017, 03:19 PM

i would not expect something that worked 12 years ago for 12 year old hardware to work today with todays hardware and OS's

systemD is very different than the old init system

usb's are now auto mounted based on the uid

please start a NEW thread and provide the missing and needed information
your OS and version
your Hardware
what has NOT worked and how it has not worked
any errors you are getting
and so on.

DaneM · 02-10-2017, 10:44 PM

SystemD was in use in 2011, when I last posted on this topic, so I think parkerlreed's posting here is appropriate. I no longer have the device, but if someone else can find a solution to the problem, I'm in favor of getting to mark this as "solved", as it pertains to modern OSes. It might help someone else with a similar problem. (Also note that USB webcams aren't usually mounted, because they don't usually contain filesystems.)

...Or someone can make a new topic; either way is fine with me.