Resolved: Problem with manual configuration

[frink]

[Update: The solution to my problem is below.]

Greetings,

I have a spare netbook with a webcam in it that I would like to add (as a 3rd camera) to my existing setup (a desktop PC running Vitamin D w two network webcams).

So far, I have installed Yawcam and BroadCam software on the netbook. With both pieces of software I am able to view the output of the netbook's webcam on the desktop PC via my web browser. [I mention both programs because when I ran into problems making Vitamin D work with Yawcam, I also tried the same steps using BroadCam instead.]

With Yawcam the address is http://192.168.1.24:8081/local.html and with BroadCam the address is http://192.168.1.24:86/amoreannoyingURL.

On the camera setup page of Vitam D, I type in the appropriate IP address and port and stream path. The URL that shows up underneath the Stream path box matches one of the two above URLs, which is the same URL I can type directly into my browser and see the netbook's web cam.

Here is the problem. On the "Test your camera connection" page of the Vitamin D setup, it just says "Connecting..." and never shows me a video feed.

I suspect this is a bug, and here is why: When I click on the "view your camera from your browser" link on the "Test your camera connection page", instead of being directed to the full URL path (e.g., http://192.168.1.24:8081/local.html), I am instead taken to just http://192.168.1.24:8081.

Has anyone else gotten a setup like I describe above to work? It seems like maybe, while correctly taking in as input the full stream path, maybe at the last step of setup Vitamin D is just using the IP and not the stream path?

Thanks.

[ryan]

Hi frink,

The type of links you are providing (http://<ip>/local.html) are unfortunately not what Vitamin D needs. Those are for viewing from a browser, while VDV needs a direct link to the video stream, like most media applications. For instance, if you were to put that link into VLC or quicktime they would also be unable to render anything. The reason the link takes users just to <ip> without the stream path you've added is that for IP cameras this takes users to the camera's built in configuration page so that they can check/change settings.

I haven't used Yawcam or BroadCam. I imagine they can be configured to work with VDV, but what you would need to provide is the stream path of the video stream itself, often something that ends in .mp4, mjpeg, or .cgi.

We have heard from users who forward webcams with a program called WebcamXP. One user provided fairly detailed writeup which may help you troubleshoot your current setup, or might be a good alternative for you: https://vitamind.fogbugz.com/default.asp?video.1.69.7

I believe VLC also has functionality to forward webcam feeds which should work with VDV, though I have not tried that personally either.

[frink]

THANK YOU!

That completely solved my problem. To recap for others:

1. Download webcamXP [free]
2. Configure Vitamin D to use this URL: http://ipaddress:port/cam_1.cgi

I can't believe how easy that was.

Thanks again! [I upped my license to pro so that I can have 3 cameras now instead of 2. ]

[pcmac]

I’m trying to understand this thread: how is he connecting the wecam on remote PC to Vit D? using WebcamXP on the remote PC?

What is advantage of this?
I can see it useful if the remote PC is on another part of a bldg or,property , by connecting to Vit D on your min network, it then avoids use of Ethernet /POE connection to camera

[ryan]

Hi pcmac,

He is doing this because the webcam is actually built into a different computer (at the top of the laptop screen) than the computer running Vitamin D Video. Though even with USB webcams, as they are inherently shortly wired, you would need to have the connected to different computers scattered around the house for coverage in those areas. If you already happen to have various machines around the house, this might be a cheap way to extend your system (webcams are much cheaper than IP cameras).

[pcmac]

so all you have to do is this?


Configure Vitamin D to use this URL: http://ipaddress:port/cam_1.cgi

[ryan]

No, you first need to use some sort of software to read from your webcam and rebroadcast it over http. Frink used webcam XP (as have some other users of VDV), but I believe there are other programs that will do this as well. I haven't used any of them and can't give specific recommendations.

[pcmac]

webcam XP would be on broadcasting from remote pc to one that runs Vit D?

can someone post simple step-by step instructions?

[exo77]

need help with path
rtsp://<ip>:554/user=admin&password=mypassword&channel=1&stream=0.sdp?real_stream
i put it on the place? but it not work? in QT and VLC it works. VitaminD freeze and restart my DRV while trying to connect.

[ryan]

Hi exo77,

What is the brand and model of the device you are trying to connect to?