Very Computer

by **Andy Smi** » Tue, 28 Oct 1997 04:00:00

I use a linux pc connected to an array of sensors to monitor
the conditions at the site of a remote astrophysics experiment.
I would like to add video cameras to the sensors, so I have been
looking for a video capture card. I do not need video, I simply want
to capture a frame or two per minute. I do however need more than
1 channel.

I have looked at the compatibility list and found quite a number of
"supported" cards, but it seems that the cards that work with linux
are all out of production, or just hard to find. Furthermore, the
link on the compatibility list gets me to a driver, but I have no
idea what to do with it besides compiling it into my kernel.
I don't know what software I will need to capture the video signals.

If there is someone out there who has solved this problem, or knows
of a solution, I would greatly appreciate an e-mail.

by **Don Carrol** » Tue, 28 Oct 1997 04:00:00

> I use a linux pc connected to an array of sensors to monitor
> the conditions at the site of a remote astrophysics experiment.
> I would like to add video cameras to the sensors, so I have been
> looking for a video capture card. I do not need video, I simply want
> to capture a frame or two per minute. I do however need more than
> 1 channel.

> I have looked at the compatibility list and found quite a number of
> "supported" cards, but it seems that the cards that work with linux
> are all out of production, or just hard to find. Furthermore, the
> link on the compatibility list gets me to a driver, but I have no
> idea what to do with it besides compiling it into my kernel.
> I don't know what software I will need to capture the video signals.

> If there is someone out there who has solved this problem, or knows
> of a solution, I would greatly appreciate an e-mail.

STB PCTV card + BTTV driver + xvidcap , works for me

--

Don Carroll - remove .nospam from address to reply

by **Marcus Metzle** » Wed, 29 Oct 1997 04:00:00

> I use a linux pc connected to an array of sensors to monitor
> the conditions at the site of a remote astrophysics experiment.
> I would like to add video cameras to the sensors, so I have been
> looking for a video capture card. I do not need video, I simply want
> to capture a frame or two per minute. I do however need more than
> 1 channel.

> I have looked at the compatibility list and found quite a number of
> "supported" cards, but it seems that the cards that work with linux
> are all out of production, or just hard to find. Furthermore, the
> link on the compatibility list gets me to a driver, but I have no
> idea what to do with it besides compiling it into my kernel.
> I don't know what software I will need to capture the video signals.

> If there is someone out there who has solved this problem, or knows
> of a solution, I would greatly appreciate an e-mail.

Take a look at:

http://www.thp.Uni-Koeln.DE/~rjkm/linux/bttv.html

This will give you the kernel module and a program to view the video
signal under X11. There is also a list of cards that use the bt848 chip,
which is the main component of a lot of tv cards.

The xtvscreen program will provide a snapshot feature in the next
version(0.43), that will capture a single picture to the harddisk.
The program is ready to be distributed (as soon as my brother puts
it on his web page).
The capturing works fine. The output file is in pnm format and
can be easily converted. Later versions will save the picture as jpeg,
since pnm 24bit color pictures take up a lot of space. I haven`t timed
the capturing process yet, but you can capture quite a lot in a short time.

Marcus

Very Computer

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Video Capture Cards

Video Capture Cards

Video Capture Cards