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Connecting a webcam and using the router to stream video around the place should be one of the easiest things to do. A bit too easy in that I neglected to provide simple instructions on how to set it up.

mjpg-streamer and the necessary drivers are included in the standard images I provide on the TP-Link TL-WR703N project page.

Preliminary steps :-

1. Get a router, load it with the standard image.
2. Set-up wireless or any other networking changes.  See an example here.
3. Plug in the camera

Now there are two ways to get mjpg-streamer to auto-start, there is an easy way and an elegant way.

• Easy way : Just add the command to the auto start script using LuCi…
• Elegant way : Edit the configuration files /etc/init.d/mjpg-streamer and /etc/config/mjpg-streamer

I prefer the easy way you are less likely to screw it up.  First we should check that the camera works well with mjpg-streamer…

1. Telnet/SSH into the router
2. Run the following command :
   

   mjpg_streamer -i “./input_uvc.so -n -r VGA -f 6 -d /dev/video0″ -o “./output_http.so -p 8080 -n”

   This command uses VGA (640×480) resolution “-r VGA” at 6 frames per second “-f 6″.

3. If that doesn’t work and an error appears, it most likely means your camera doesn’t support JPEG images.  If so, try the following command instead :
   

   mjpg_streamer -i “./input_uvc.so -n -q 60 -r QVGA -f 6 -d /dev/video0″ -o “./output_http.so -p 8080 -n”

   This command forces mjpg-streamer to convert into raw into JPEG at (-q) quality 60, at resolution (-r) QVGA, this can be “160×120″ for example.  The frame rate is specified by the -f (6).  This method is MUUUUUUUUCH more CPU intensive and you might have to tweak the resolution and frame rate down.

4. Using a device connected to the router, use a web browser (e.g. Chrome) to connect to the following to get a live view:
   

   http://192.168.1.1:8080/?action=stream

   You can also get a single snapshot at:

    http://192.168.1.1:8080/?action=snapshot

5. If you need to play around with the commands, use CTRL-C to kill mjpg-streamer and try again.  Avoid high resolutions (e.g. 1920×1080) as that will just crash the router.  I used 640×480 at 25 frames per second relatively happily on a JPEG enabled camera (e.g. Logitech/Microsoft ones, not the cheap no brand ones).
6. Once you have a workable set-up, copy the command you have and put it into the local start-up.  Append the command line with an ampersand “&” so it runs in the background.  e.g.
   

   mjpg_streamer -i “./input_uvc.so -n -r VGA -f 6 -d /dev/video0″ -o “./output_http.so -p 8080 -n” &

   Hint – In Luci, select the Systems tab, then select Startup, scroll down to the Local Startup section and add your command to the box and press save and apply.
   

Enjoy?

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 at 20:08 and is filed under Perverse Applications of Science..., Software Tips & Tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.