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setpwc

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Introduction

With setpwc you can set and list various settings of Philips (and compatibles) WebCams with the 'PWC chipset'.

Supported hardware

NOTE: this list might not be complete! If your webcam works correctly with the PWC-driver, then it'll work fine with setpwc.
Philips:PCA645VC
PCA646VC
PCVC675K "Vesta"
PCVC680K "Vesta Pro"
PCVC690K "Vesta Scan"
PCVC720K/PCVC740K "ToUCam XS"
PCVC730K "ToUCam Fun"
PCVC740K "ToUCam Pro"
PCVC750K "ToUCam Scan"
PCVC830K "ToUCam Fun II"
PCVC840K "ToUCam Pro II"
AskeyVC010
Creative LabsWebcam Pro Ex
LogitechQuickCam 3000 Pro
Logitech QuickCam 4000 Pro
Logitech QuickCam Notebook Pro (WARNING: new models with USB ID 046d:08c3 do not work!)
Logitech QuickCam Zoom
Logitech QuickCam Orbit/Sphere
SamsungMPC-C10
MPC-C30
SotecAfina Eye
VisioniteVCS UM100
VCS UC300
Uptill a while ago, NemoSoft was the maintainer of the driver for the PWC compatible webcams. Development by him has stopped, Luc Saillard has decided to continue the work.
Webpage of NemoSoft: http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/
Webpage of Luc Saillard: http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/

What can it do for you

The settings you can set are:
  • dump current settings
  • set framerate
  • store/restore settings in nonvolatile RAM
  • restore factory settings
  • set compression preference
  • set automatic gain control
  • set shutter speed
  • red/blue-balance when white balance mode set to manual
  • set automatic white balance mode speed and delay
  • set led on- and off-time
  • set electronic sharpness
  • set backlight compensation
  • set antiflicker mode
  • set noise reduction mode
  • set pan/tilt/zoom (Logitech QuickCam Orbit/Sphere)
Run 'setpwc -h' to see a list of commands.

Download

Download link:setpwc-1.2.tgz
Setpwc is now included in Debian.

Commercial



Problems?

ioctl-commands failing? Upgrade the kernel to 2.4.21 (or more recent).

Changes

1.2 certain resolution + framerate combinations need to be set at the same time or else the PWC chipset refuse them
1.1 added man-page (written by Anders Lennartsson)
1.0 the serial number of the webcam is now displayed
0.9 '-d' can now be anywhere in the commandline
0.8 with some compilers, setpwc would end up in an infinite loop. fixed.
0.7 The kernel API for the Philips compatible webcams has changed slightly, so setpwc was adapted accordingly.
0.6 fixed resetting pan/tilt of logitech orbit
0.5 added support for pan/tilt/zoom (Logitech QuickCam Orbit/Sphere)
0.4 this version now includes pwc-ioctl.h so you no longer need to have the kernel-sources
0.3 a couple of settings are not supported by some webcam/driver combinations. the program will now not just bail out with cryptic error messages
0.2 the program will now not exit if an ioctl returns an error. it seems the versions of the driver behave differently
0.1 initial release

Tip

Of course, when an other program is using your webcam, you cannot tweak the settings of it. Well, not in all cases that is. Try using 'sysfs' in that case.

Links

A GUI for SetPWChttp://gtksetpwc.spiderou.net/
NemoSoft (old driver)http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/
Luc Saillard (new driver)http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/
Kenneth Lavrsen has started a Wiki on how to install the new PWC driverhttp://www.lavrsen.dk/twiki/bin/view/PWC/WebHome
MotionAn other usefull webcam-related tool: motion captures videostreams when it detects motion.
ZoneminderLike motion.
howtoThe webcam on Linux how-to.
Menu with my UNIX/Linux softwareFeeling generous? e-mail me at: folkert@vanheusden.com (CAcert assurer)
April 28, 2008 Please support Seti@Home