Skype Video, and a Logitech webcam

Was hardware shopping yesterday, and couldn’t resist getting myself a webcam, now that Skype 2.0 on Linux supports it (okay, its beta, but it works). Picked up a Logitech QuickCam Family for RM65. There was a more expensive version (RM10 more) that was “Skype certified”, but I figured I could save the cash, seeing that there is no way Logitech supports Linux officially anyway.

Did it work with Linux? Most certainly, on Fedora 8, it just worked. Of course, you need the livna repository. Just install gspca (it’ll pull in some kernel modules too), and then run modprobe gspca, and voila! you have a working webcam. Tried it with Ekiga, it was detected. Tried it with Skype, and even had a chat, with a user on Windows, and it worked. Glad to be webcam enabled.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

12 Comments

  1. aussieaubs says:

    were you able to get your skype phone to talk to your fedora box?? via bluetooth??

  2. byte says:

    @aussieaubs: talk to? i.e. i could access the phone and memory card like a usb mass storage device, no issues there. what other means of talking to is there? ;)

  3. aussieaubs says:

    ah ok what i meant was – were you able to sync your skype three mobile phone with your fedora box including address book etc?

  4. Daniel says:

    Hi. Desperately seeking a linux compatible webcam myself. At the PCshopper website, the following quickcam family webcam is listed, is this the one you have? http://www.pcshopper.com.au/product.php?productid=46942&cat=445&page=1
    Also can you comment about image quality in skype? Is the image dark or is lighting adequate?

  5. byte says:

    @Daniel: Yes, thats exactly what I have. The lightning seems sufficient, but its not like I’ve tried to use the webcam in the dark or anything ;)

  6. Daniel says:

    Thanks for the info. Now to go buy the thing.

  7. Daniel says:

    Hi again,

    I’ve read that the picture from this camera can be pretty dark under skype, did you have to contend with this problem? If so, how did you deal with it? Thanks again.

  8. byte says:

    @Daniel: its only pretty dark under the testing mode. I’ve Skype chatted with others, and its just fine. The problem is with Skype, as opposed as to the camera – I believe they’ll fix it when its a non-beta release

  9. Daniel says:

    That’s a relief, thanks again.

  10. […] oni povas interbabili kun homoj per Skype en Linukso, per la TTT-fotilo. Mi planas elŝuti Skajpon kaj provos trovi iujn Esperantistojn. […]

  11. Joe says:

    Anyone had any luck getting logitech cams to work on ubuntu with skype?


i