audio/video call does not work with Logitech QuickCam 4000 Pro (pwc module)

[Matthew Fisher]

Binary package hint: pidgin

I am running the 64-bit version of Ubuntu 9.10 (with all updates applied, kernel version 2.6.31-17-generic), with the pidgin package from the repository (1:2.6.2-1ubuntu7.1).

I have a Logitech QuickCam 4000 Pro plugged into a powered usb hub.
The webcam works perfectly when accessed from cheese or mplayer, even with multiple application starting/stopping.

Video from the webcam worked ONCE on my first attempt to place an audio/video call. I ran into problems due to the microphone not being configured, and upon exiting and restarting, the camera could no longer be accessed by pidgin (in fact, the notice to the recipient was no longer sent due to the non-responsiveness of the camera). Even with multiple reboots, disconnecting/reconnecting the cam and hub, pidgin has not been able to read video input from the camera.
When looking at dmesg output, I see errors like these (usually in a pair per attempt):
pwc: isoc_init() submit_urb 0 failed with error -28
pwc: isoc_init() submit_urb 1 failed with error -28
Google searches indicate that the problem is likely from being connected through the hub, but they are old posts and refer to older kernel versions... In addition, wouldn't a problem stemming from a hub (or kernel driver) manifest when ANY program attempted to access the device, not just pidgin?

Plugging the cam directly into the system isn't really an option, so I thought I'd see if pidgin accessed video devices in an unusual or outdated way that makes it susceptible to problems--and if it could be brought more in-line with the way that mplayer or cheese handle it.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Jan 28 21:34:53 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: pidgin 1:2.6.2-1ubuntu7.1
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-17.54-generic
SourcePackage: pidgin
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-17-generic x86_64

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better.You reported this bug a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering is this still an issue for you? Do you get the same with Lucid or Maverick? Thanks in advance.

[Rafael (rafael-postgresql-es)]

I have almost the same problem with Ubuntu 10.04.

I get an "pwc: isoc_init() submit_urb 0 failed with error -28" error when I try to use my QuickCam 4000 Pro, and a black picture in the programs trying to use the camera. The camera is connected directly to an usb port (not a hub).

This camera has been working without problems for years with Ubuntu 9.04. Yesterday I upgraded to 10.04 and it looks like the camera does not work when using a program that uses gstreamer.

F.eks, it works without problems with "camorama". But with "Skype" or "cheese", it doesn't and the system generates the "pwc: isoc_init() ..." error.

Do you need more information?

[Gianfranco Costamagna (costamagnagianfranco)]

A new skype version (2.2.0.25 beta) is available from partner repository, could you try to reproduce the bug with the latest version and tell us if the problem is still there?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for skype (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]