Slow FPS using Windows. Normal FPS using Mac.

[jarred.128]

I've been trying to setup icamsource to use as a baby monitor for my upcoming baby.  I have several windows computers that I've tried setting up the icamsource on but all of them yield horrible results.  So in an attempt to identify the issue I ran it on my mac (because I thought it might be the USB webcam) but to my surprise it ran flawlessly.  The setups I have used all use the icamsource 2.4.4 beta, the same USB webcam (which is a Gear Head brand), ethernet wired connection, and accessed them from my iPad and iPhone that are connected to the same local network.

1. Intel Celeron 2.0 ghz Desktop / 256mb ram / Windows XP
2. Intel Core2Duo 3.0ghz Desktop / 4gb ram / Windows Visa Professional 64bit
3. Intel Core2Duo 2.66ghz MacBookPro / 4gb ram / OSX Lion.

I wouldn't expect much from the first setup but the next two have nearly identical specs aside from the OS.  Is there any way that I can get the second setup to work?

[SKJM Support]

What error message are you seeing when you are unable to connect: No Sources Found, Broker Connection Error, or Source Connection Error? Are you having problems connecting when your phone is connected via 3G, WiFi, or both?

Are the Windows computers running on the same network as the Mac?

For more information about iCam error messages and possible fixes, please go here: http://skjm.com/icam/help/troubleshooting.php

[jarred.128]

There is no error message being displayed.  I can get video and audio to work on all of the setups I tried, but when using a windows machine I get choppy video/audio that freezes for 1-2 seconds every 5 seconds or so. 

I've only used WiFi from my iPhone and iPad.

The computers were all setup using the same wired connection to my router.

[SKJM Support]

Please make sure that you are running the latest version of iCamSource available on our iCam Support Pages here: http://skjm.com/icam/support.php. There was a bug fix on the Windows version recently that affected the framerate in certain situations.

Also, we have seen cases in the past where the framerate was slowed by third party software that had hijacked the JPEG encoding functions from the operating system.  Do you have any sort of image or video encoding software installed on your computer?  The encoding software that we've seen the problem with before was ffdshow and calibratedQ XD Decode, but there are probably other similar products that do the same thing.

[jarred.128]

I'm running the latest version of icamsource.  Both windows setups were on clean installs so icamsource is the only thing running aside from what comes with windows.

[SKJM Support]

Is the video slow in the iCamSource preference pane on the computer, or is it slow only on the phone?

[jarred.128]

It is not slow in the iCamSource preference pane on the computer.  Only on the connected iPhone or iPad.

[rsbidinger]

I'm having the exact same problem. Same specs and conditions. Fantastic results with the Mac and terrible results on the PC.

[SKJM Support]

Please try this test version: http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSource2.4.3b.zip

It is a zipped executable. Unzip it into the C:\Program Files\iCamSource folder and run it. Please let me know if this version increases the frame rate?

[rsbidinger]

it has! Thank-you. The latest beta I was using seems to be the culprit. Now I'm just having trouble with the video source not re-appearing after clicking 'Stop' and then 'Start'. Typically force quitting the application or following the procedures below solves this problem:

1) Selecting a different video source
2) Adjusting the frame rate
3) Selecting desired video source
4) Clicking 'Start'

[SKJM Support]

it has! Thank-you. The latest beta I was using seems to be the culprit. Now I'm just having trouble with the video source not re-appearing after clicking 'Stop' and then 'Start'. Typically force quitting the application or following the procedures below solves this problem:

1) Selecting a different video source
2) Adjusting the frame rate
3) Selecting desired video source
4) Clicking 'Start'

I'm glad you are seeing a better frame rate with the BETA version.

As for not being able to locate the iCamSource after you click Start, it sounds like the iCamSource window may be hidden. When you close the iCamSource window, the iCamSource program still runs in the background. If the iCamSource window is hidden, there will be a small iCamSource icon in the System Tray. The icon is a small version of the iCam icon (camera lens). From this icon, you can stop, start, or quit iCamSource. If you select "Preferences" it will display the iCamSource window.

[Stefan]

it has! Thank-you. The latest beta I was using seems to be the culprit.

If 2.4.4 gives you a slow FPS when 2.4.3b is smooth, then the fix put into 2.4.4 based on the changes made in 2.4.3b must not have been sufficient to completely fix the problem.

If you could download the following 2.4.3c logging version and unzip it to your iCamSource folder and run it, it should also be smooth when you connect using iCam: http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSource2.4.3c.zip

When it is running, it will also create an iCamSource_Debug_Log.txt file in your iCamSource folder. If you could e-mail that log file to support@skjm.com after confirming that the frame rate is smoother than 2.4.4 then hopefully we can track down the additional causes of this issue.

Thanks!

[jim5022]

icam source installed on Windows 7, using built in webcam on laptop. shows video in window but window does not have motion. video comes on but frozen. I can see it on my iphone but the image is the same as source.... no motion.am using ver 2.4.3c . Have tried most previous versions with same results.

[SKJM Support]

icam source installed on Windows 7, using built in webcam on laptop. shows video in window but window does not have motion. video comes on but frozen. I can see it on my iphone but the image is the same as source.... no motion.am using ver 2.4.3c . Have tried most previous versions with same results.

Please make sure that you have the latest drivers installed for your webcam.

Also, make sure there aren't any other video capture programs (such as Skype) running. They might be fighting iCamSource for access to the camera.