Add old linksys ip camera

Other Devices & Integrations Door Locks & Sensors
1

I have several camera’s, most new but also some old ones such as this Linksys WVC54G

This camera has mpjeg stream which can be acces as http://ip.cam/img/mjpeg.jpg
When i add a new generic camera to vera and enter these details vera cannot get any picture.

I also use a synology NAS with surveillance station, here also i added manually add this camera with the same details.
In the NAS the picture is shown and recorded but not in vera2.

It there any way to add this camera also in vera2?

2

@B3rt

Are you running UI4 or UI5? I have several Linksys WVC80N cameras and I had them working with my Vera2 using both UI4 and UI5. The WVC80N is the next generation Linksys camera after the WVC54G.

The reason why I asked if you are using UI5, because if you are you can download the Foscam IP Camera app from apps.mios.com and Vera will automatically find your camera and try to set it up for you. It would also be very useful if you were running the latest public firmware - 1.5. 408. If you do not have UI5, then you have to use a manual process to download the I_FoscamPTZ.xml file that the UI5 app provides automatically, which will eventually work, but which can be frustrating and time consuming. The documentation needed to install your Linksys camera can be found in posts on this forum and in MIOS documentation. However, you could end up doing a lot of searching before you have all the answers. Here is a good place to start:
http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/IP_Cameras#Example_of_using_a_Linksys_WVC54GCA_or_WVC210_camera_with_Vera

Here are some hints that hopefully will help you:
For my Linksys cameras I use a device_file of D_DigitalSecurityCamera1.xml and an impl_file of I_FoscamPTX.xml. You should also be using a fixed IP address for your Linksys camera and know its mac address as well, so you can enter this information on the Advanced tab of your Linksys camera. You need to enter the Username and Password for your camera. My DirectStreamingURL setting is /img/video.mjpeg. My URL setting is /img/snapshot.cgi?size=3&quality=1. In the VeraAddress field of the camera’s advanced tab, I entered the IP address of my Vera device. The Vera device should also have a fixed IP device.

If you are using the I_FoscamPTZ.xml impl_file, you will want to set the ConfiguredMD value to -1. If you do not, you will end up with a Motion Sensor device attached to your Linksys camera, that you will not be able to use because the Motion Sensor device only works with Foscam cameras.

When I use these settings, I see an streaming image. I also can take snapshots and have them emailed to me. The camera will also stores archived images. I have not tried to record video, but I have found recording video from a Linksys camera with Vera to be a work in progress that may never have an end. Linksys cameras are simply too old to make it worth the effort.

My Linksys cameras have been very useful. However, I am gradually replacing them with Foscam FI8910W cameras because more work has been done to integrate them with Vera. Also, I find the Motion Sensor device that was created by @mvcflorin to accompany the Foscam FI8910W cameras to be extremely useful. The MS device integrates the camera’s built-in motion sensor with Vera. This allows you to avoid using a separate physical battery operated motion sensor to coordinate your Linksys camera with Vera. If you consider the cost of the FI8910W and a physical Z-wave motion sensor, for about $20 more than the cost of the Z-wave motion sensor, you can have a Pan/Tilt camera with IR capability.

3

Thx for your reply.

I am running UI5 (today upgraded to last version) and allready also have 2 foscam FW8918 camera’s beside the old linksys one.

But i am not sure if the linksys is working when i choose foscam.
If i add an other foscam i cannot set “DirectStreamingURL” parameter, this field is not present only “url” field is present.
Also this camera has no seperate snapshot and streaming url as far as i know, /snapshot.cgi?something reports only as a 404 not found

I find vera2 ‘device options’ very confusing, the fields have no logic al all, no “clear” explantions what they exactly do and/or how to add missing fields.
For example, at the bottom of the “advanced” tab of the device is a option “new value”
When you use this a value is added, but NO option to remove it when it is faulty.
When i “add” “DirectStreamingURL” as new value, nothing happens… So no idea how to add this “DirectStreamingURL” option to my foscam setup. If i look into other camera’s (have 9) then they all have different fields and no idea why 1 has that and the other hass this.

Also other cams have problems with screenshots, live works but snapshots not. These cams do have 2 urls but the device options have again no 2 options.

I have realy no idea who invented this device options but it is really “abracadra” for me, i cannot find any logic in it.

4

@B3rt

Are you running Version 2.2 of the Foscam IP camera app? If you do not have Version 2.2, then you will have problems. With Version 2.2 and UI5, the system should take care of itself. If you do not have the DirectStreamingURL parameter, then something is not correct. Also, if you do not have a Motion Sensor device attached to your Linksys camera and Foscam cameras, something is not correct.

If I were you I would postpone getting the cameras on my iPhone, until I could get them to work on Vera. Getting it to work on an iPhone and Vera at the same time appear to be mutually exclusive goals.

In the Unit Settings tab, it is imperative that the “Do you want to secure this Vera?:” option is set to No or you will never see an image when you use the Foscam app.

I have three URL settings on each of my Linksys cameras. As long as they are all the same, it does not seem to matter.

From experience, I know that adding is as a new value will not be helpful.

I agree with you that the documentation is very confusing. Fortunately, users on the forum helped me work through the issues. It is not that the documentation is wrong, but it is often incomplete. Make sure you look at the entire http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/IP_Cameras#Example_of_using_a_Linksys_WVC54GCA_or_WVC210_camera_with_Vera forum thread. It shows how the release of the Foscam app evolved.

If none of your cameras are working, you might consider backing up your system, both the Z-wave network and a full backup. Then you can blow all your cameras away, make sure that the Foscam 2.2 app is loaded, then add your cameras one at a time, starting with your two Foscam cameras. Remember it could take time for Vera to find the camera, especially if it is a Vera2.

It bothers me that the Advanced tabs for your cameras are all over the map. That should not be happening. You should not have missing fields. If you do then something is not right with the software on your Vera.

Good luck.

5

Thx,

Maybe some mis communication, here per point how it is:

  • Yes I am running UI5 on vera 2, latest firmware version, updated today!
  • Yes i am using version 2.2 of the foscam cam app
  • YES motion sensors are listed and working
  • YES motion sensors are working normally and are already used within a scene to switch light on or of, all works
  • NO, i have no motion sensor linked to the linksys cam, only 2 sensors both 2 my foscam camera’s
  • YES, each camera has other device field, some have indeed directstreaming field others don’t (have 9 cameras)
  • 1 foscam has indeed “directstreamingurl” the other foscam camera has NOT, both the same camera’s!
  • NO when i add a new foscam camera there is NO direcstreamingurl field

Note it is a linksys WVC54G (without the A) version NOT the WVC54GA (is a completely other model/version)