Category: Software Tips & Tricks

Connecting a webcam and using the router to stream video around the place should be one of the easiest things to do. A bit too easy in that I neglected to provide simple instructions on how to set it up.

mjpg-streamer and the necessary drivers are included in the standard images I provide on the TP-Link TL-WR703N project page.

Preliminary steps :-

1. Get a router, load it with the standard image.
2. Set-up wireless or any other networking changes.  See an example here.
3. Plug in the camera

Now there are two ways to get mjpg-streamer to auto-start, there is an easy way and an elegant way.

• Easy way : Just add the command to the auto start script using LuCi…
• Elegant way : Edit the configuration files /etc/init.d/mjpg-streamer and /etc/config/mjpg-streamer

I prefer the easy way you are less likely to screw it up.  First we should check that the camera works well with mjpg-streamer…

1. Telnet/SSH into the router
2. Run the following command :
   

   mjpg_streamer -i “./input_uvc.so -n -r VGA -f 6 -d /dev/video0” -o “./output_http.so -p 8080 -n”

   This command uses VGA (640×480) resolution “-r VGA” at 6 frames per second “-f 6”.

3. If that doesn’t work and an error appears, it most likely means your camera doesn’t support JPEG images.  If so, try the following command instead :
   

   mjpg_streamer -i “./input_uvc.so -n -q 60 -r QVGA -f 6 -d /dev/video0” -o “./output_http.so -p 8080 -n”

   This command forces mjpg-streamer to convert into raw into JPEG at (-q) quality 60, at resolution (-r) QVGA, this can be “160×120” for example.  The frame rate is specified by the -f (6).  This method is MUUUUUUUUCH more CPU intensive and you might have to tweak the resolution and frame rate down.

4. Using a device connected to the router, use a web browser (e.g. Chrome) to connect to the following to get a live view:
   

   http://192.168.1.1:8080/?action=stream

   You can also get a single snapshot at:

    http://192.168.1.1:8080/?action=snapshot

5. If you need to play around with the commands, use CTRL-C to kill mjpg-streamer and try again.  Avoid high resolutions (e.g. 1920×1080) as that will just crash the router.  I used 640×480 at 25 frames per second relatively happily on a JPEG enabled camera (e.g. Logitech/Microsoft ones, not the cheap no brand ones).
6. Once you have a workable set-up, copy the command you have and put it into the local start-up.  Append the command line with an ampersand “&” so it runs in the background.  e.g.
   

   mjpg_streamer -i “./input_uvc.so -n -r VGA -f 6 -d /dev/video0” -o “./output_http.so -p 8080 -n” &

   Hint – In Luci, select the Systems tab, then select Startup, scroll down to the Local Startup section and add your command to the box and press save and apply.
   

Enjoy? 🙂