Duplicate and blank webcams in multi camera setup.

Question

I have 5 cameras but have tried 1,2,3,4,5 in various combinations. I always lose 2 webcam streams, last is black and 2 are duplicated. e.g. with 5 cameras, 2 and 4 are the same image, 4 is missing and 5 is black. jpeg and movie capture works fine. (4 bttv CCTV and one IP camera)

UPDATE The movie capture has similar problems i.e. duplicate/missing camera however no blank channel. 13 Oct.

I remember having this problem when I first started years ago using cheap ebay capture cards but my current card has worked fine for many years (Multimedia video controller: Brooktree Corporation Bt878 Video Capture (rev 11) )

History: had Debian Etch and an old Motion, upgraded to Wheezy and Motion 3,2,12. I have 4 CPUS and plenty of memory and disk, CPU load is light. Motion has served me well for many years before upgrade.

Current system is ALL direct apt-get of binaries from Debian 64 bit.

Using Cambozola (for now) but same with firefox streams.

No error messages. No other issues with the system. I upgraded before converting my web site to HTML5, plugin free web site.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

I had tried everything I could think of including a system drive bare metal install. In the end I had a number of thread files 1-n each with videodevice /dev/video0 to /dev/video3 but they were not in order i.e. 1,2,4,3. This screws up the motion buffering some how. The threads work up to the out of order number. Changing them to order video0, video1, video2, video3 and all is fine.

I had to do the reinstall to get desktop working (dist-upgrade killed it as usual) so that I could use xawtv as a debug tool.

I notice a change in the way xawtv works (etch to wheezy). Now I can select /dev/video0 and view each camera by looking at composite0, 1, 2, 3. This did not happen before I upgraded.

My capture card has 4 independent bt878 chips so this should not happen. Each appears as a separate PCI device.

So there must be some subtle interactions between bttv drivers and motion and xawtv.

Finally, instead of video0, video1, video3, video2 all using input 2. I now need video0, video1, video2, video3 all using input 2 except video0 which has to be on input 3.

Motion is a great package and I hope this may help someone else.

Any way, at least I have a working system again. (now back to HTML5 upgrade....)

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Thread 0

    daemon = off
    process_id_file = /var/run/motion/motion.pid
    setup_mode = off
    videodevice = /dev/video9
    v4l2_palette = 8
    input = 8
    norm = 0
    frequency = 0
    rotate = 0
    width = 352
    height = 288
    framerate = 5
    minimum_frame_time = 0
    netcam_url = (not defined)
    netcam_userpass = (not defined)
    netcam_http = 1.0
    netcam_proxy = (not defined)
    netcam_tolerant_check = off
    auto_brightness = on
    brightness = 0
    contrast = 0
    saturation = 0
    hue = 0
    roundrobin_frames = 1
    roundrobin_skip = 1
    switchfilter = off
    threshold = 1800
    threshold_tune = on
    noise_level = 32
    noise_tune = off
    despeckle = EedDl
    area_detect = (not defined)
    mask_file = (not defined)
    smart_mask_speed = 0
    lightswitch = 0
    minimum_motion_frames = 1
    pre_capture = 20
    post_capture = 80
    gap = 60
    max_mpeg_time = 300
    output_all = off
    output_normal = on
    output_motion = off
    quality = 75
    ppm = off
    ffmpeg_cap_new = on
    ffmpeg_cap_motion = off
    ffmpeg_timelapse = 0
    ffmpeg_timelapse_mode = daily
    ffmpeg_bps = 500000
    ffmpeg_variable_bitrate = 0
    ffmpeg_video_codec = mpeg4
    ffmpeg_deinterlace = on
    snapshot_interval = 0
    locate = off
    text_right = %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q
    text_left = DEFAULT
    text_changes = off
    text_event = %Y%m%d%H%M%S
    text_double = on
    target_dir = /tmp/motion
    snapshot_filename = %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-snapshot
    jpeg_filename = %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%q
    movie_filename = %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
    timelapse_filename = %Y%m%d-timelapse
    webcam_port = 0
    webcam_quality = 50
    webcam_motion = off
    webcam_maxrate = 5
    webcam_localhost = off
    webcam_limit = 0
    control_port = 8088
    control_localhost = off
    control_html_output = on
    control_authentication = (not defined)
    track_type = 0
    track_auto = off
    track_port = (not defined)
    track_motorx = 0
    track_motory = 0
    track_maxx = 0
    track_maxy = 0
    track_iomojo_id = 0
    track_step_angle_x = 10
    track_step_angle_y = 10
    track_move_wait = 10
    track_speed = 255
    track_stepsize = 40
    quiet = on
    on_event_start = (not defined)
    on_event_end = (not defined)
    on_picture_save = (not defined)
    on_motion_detected = (not defined)
    on_area_detected = (not defined)
    on_movie_start = (not defined)
    on_movie_end = /etc/scripts/motion/make_mp4 %f %f.mp4
    on_camera_lost = (not defined)
    sql_log_image = on
    sql_log_snapshot = off
    sql_log_mpeg = on
    sql_log_timelapse = off
    sql_query = insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%C', '%C')
    mysql_db = webcam
    mysql_host = localhost
    mysql_user = webcam
    mysql_password = ******
    pgsql_db = (not defined)
    pgsql_host = localhost
    pgsql_user = (not defined)
    pgsql_password = (not defined)
    pgsql_port = 5432
    video_pipe = (not defined)
    motion_video_pipe = (not defined)
    thread = thread /etc/motion/thread1.conf
    thread /etc/motion/thread2.conf
    thread /etc/motion/thread3.conf
    thread /etc/motion/thread4.conf
    thread /etc/motion/thread5.conf

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Thread 1

    setup_mode = off
    videodevice = /dev/video0
    v4l2_palette = 8
    input = 2
    norm = 0
    frequency = 0
    rotate = 0
    width = 560
    height = 416
    framerate = 5
    minimum_frame_time = 0
    netcam_url = (not defined)
    netcam_userpass = (not defined)
    netcam_http = 1.0
    netcam_proxy = (not defined)
    netcam_tolerant_check = off
    auto_brightness = off
    brightness = 0
    contrast = 0
    saturation = 255
    hue = 0
    roundrobin_frames = 1
    roundrobin_skip = 1
    switchfilter = off
    threshold = 300
    threshold_tune = on
    noise_level = 32
    noise_tune = off
    despeckle = EedDl
    area_detect = (not defined)
    mask_file = (not defined)
    smart_mask_speed = 1
    lightswitch = 0
    minimum_motion_frames = 1
    pre_capture = 5
    post_capture = 200
    gap = 20
    max_mpeg_time = 300
    output_all = off
    output_normal = on
    output_motion = off
    quality = 75
    ppm = off
    ffmpeg_cap_new = on
    ffmpeg_cap_motion = off
    ffmpeg_timelapse = 0
    ffmpeg_timelapse_mode = daily
    ffmpeg_bps = 1000000
    ffmpeg_variable_bitrate = 0
    ffmpeg_video_codec = msmpeg4
    ffmpeg_deinterlace = on
    snapshot_interval = 0
    locate = off
    text_right = %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q
    text_left = ******
    text_changes = on
    text_event = %Y%m%d%H%M%S
    text_double = on
    target_dir = /var/www/html/pics/cam1
    snapshot_filename = %d/0%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%v-snap
    jpeg_filename = %d/0%Y%m%d%H%M%S--%v-%q-moti
    movie_filename = %d/0%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%v-moti
    timelapse_filename = %d/0%Y%m%d-%v-timelapse
    webcam_port = 8031
    webcam_quality = 75
    webcam_motion = off
    webcam_maxrate = 5
    webcam_localhost = off
    webcam_limit = 0
    track_type = 0
    track_auto = off
    track_port = (not defined)
    track_motorx = 0
    track_motory = 0
    track_maxx = 0
    track_maxy = 0
    track_iomojo_id = 0
    track_step_angle_x = 10
    track_step_angle_y = 10
    track_move_wait = 10
    track_speed = 255
    track_stepsize = 40
    quiet = on
    on_event_start = (not defined)
    on_event_end = (not defined)
    on_picture_save = (not defined)
    on_motion_detected = (not defined)
    on_area_detected = (not defined)
    on_movie_start = (not defined)
    on_movie_end = /etc/scripts/motion/make_mp4 %f %f.mp4
    on_camera_lost = (not defined)
    sql_log_image = on
    sql_log_snapshot = off
    sql_log_mpeg = on
    sql_log_timelapse = off
    sql_query = insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%C', '%C')
    mysql_db = webcam
    mysql_host = localhost
    mysql_user = webcam
    mysql_password = ******
    pgsql_db = (not defined)
    pgsql_host = localhost
    pgsql_user = (not defined)
    pgsql_password = (not defined)
    pgsql_port = 5432
    video_pipe = (not defined)
    motion_video_pipe = (not defined)

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Thread 2

    setup_mode = off
    videodevice = /dev/video1
    v4l2_palette = 8
    input = 2
    norm = 0
    frequency = 0
    rotate = 0
    width = 560
    height = 416
    framerate = 5
    minimum_frame_time = 0
    netcam_url = (not defined)
    netcam_userpass = (not defined)
    netcam_http = 1.0
    netcam_proxy = (not defined)
    netcam_tolerant_check = off
    auto_brightness = off
    brightness = 0
    contrast = 0
    saturation = 255
    hue = 0
    roundrobin_frames = 1
    roundrobin_skip = 1
    switchfilter = off
    threshold = 300
    threshold_tune = on
    noise_level = 32
    noise_tune = off
    despeckle = EedDl
    area_detect = (not defined)
    mask_file = (not defined)
    smart_mask_speed = 1
    lightswitch = 0
    minimum_motion_frames = 1
    pre_capture = 5
    post_capture = 200
    gap = 20
    max_mpeg_time = 300
    output_all = off
    output_normal = on
    output_motion = off
    quality = 75
    ppm = off
    ffmpeg_cap_new = on
    ffmpeg_cap_motion = off
    ffmpeg_timelapse = 0
    ffmpeg_timelapse_mode = daily
    ffmpeg_bps = 1000000
    ffmpeg_variable_bitrate = 0
    ffmpeg_video_codec = msmpeg4
    ffmpeg_deinterlace = on
    snapshot_interval = 0
    locate = off
    text_right = %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q
    text_left = ******
    text_changes = on
    text_event = %Y%m%d%H%M%S
    text_double = on
    target_dir = /var/www/html/pics/cam2
    snapshot_filename = %d/1%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%v-snap
    jpeg_filename = %d/1%Y%m%d%H%M%S--%v-%q-moti
    movie_filename = %d/%v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
    timelapse_filename = %Y%m%d-timelapse
    webcam_port = 8077
    webcam_quality = 75
    webcam_motion = off
    webcam_maxrate = 5
    webcam_localhost = off
    webcam_limit = 0
    track_type = 0
    track_auto = off
    track_port = (not defined)
    track_motorx = 0
    track_motory = 0
    track_maxx = 0
    track_maxy = 0
    track_iomojo_id = 0
    track_step_angle_x = 10
    track_step_angle_y = 10
    track_move_wait = 10
    track_speed = 255
    track_stepsize = 40
    quiet = on
    on_event_start = (not defined)
    on_event_end = (not defined)
    on_picture_save = (not defined)
    on_motion_detected = (not defined)
    on_area_detected = (not defined)
    on_movie_start = (not defined)
    on_movie_end = /etc/scripts/motion/make_mp4 %f %f.mp4
    on_camera_lost = (not defined)
    sql_log_image = on
    sql_log_snapshot = off
    sql_log_mpeg = on
    sql_log_timelapse = off
    sql_query = insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%C', '%C')
    mysql_db = webcam
    mysql_host = localhost
    mysql_user = webcam
    mysql_password = ******
    pgsql_db = (not defined)
    pgsql_host = localhost
    pgsql_user = (not defined)
    pgsql_password = (not defined)
    pgsql_port = 5432
    video_pipe = (not defined)
    motion_video_pipe = (not defined)

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Thread 3

    setup_mode = off
    videodevice = /dev/video3
    v4l2_palette = 8
    input = 2
    norm = 0
    frequency = 0
    rotate = 0
    width = 560
    height = 416
    framerate = 5
    minimum_frame_time = 0
    netcam_url = (not defined)
    netcam_userpass = (not defined)
    netcam_http = 1.0
    netcam_proxy = (not defined)
    netcam_tolerant_check = off
    auto_brightness = on
    brightness = 0
    contrast = 0
    saturation = 255
    hue = 0
    roundrobin_frames = 1
    roundrobin_skip = 1
    switchfilter = off
    threshold = 300
    threshold_tune = on
    noise_level = 32
    noise_tune = off
    despeckle = EedDl
    area_detect = (not defined)
    mask_file = (not defined)
    smart_mask_speed = 1
    lightswitch = 0
    minimum_motion_frames = 1
    pre_capture = 5
    post_capture = 200
    gap = 20
    max_mpeg_time = 300
    output_all = off
    output_normal = on
    output_motion = off
    quality = 75
    ppm = off
    ffmpeg_cap_new = on
    ffmpeg_cap_motion = off
    ffmpeg_timelapse = 0
    ffmpeg_timelapse_mode = daily
    ffmpeg_bps = 1000000
    ffmpeg_variable_bitrate = 0
    ffmpeg_video_codec = msmpeg4
    ffmpeg_deinterlace = on
    snapshot_interval = 0
    locate = off
    text_right = %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q
    text_left = front
    text_changes = on
    text_event = %Y%m%d%H%M%S
    text_double = on
    target_dir = /var/www/html/pics/cam3
    snapshot_filename = %d/2%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%v-snap
    jpeg_filename = %d/2%Y%m%d%H%M%S--%v-%q-moti
    movie_filename = %d/%v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
    timelapse_filename = %d/2%Y%m%d-%v-timelapse
    webcam_port = 8076
    webcam_quality = 75
    webcam_motion = off
    webcam_maxrate = 5
    webcam_localhost = off
    webcam_limit = 0
    track_type = 0
    track_auto = off
    track_port = (not defined)
    track_motorx = 0
    track_motory = 0
    track_maxx = 0
    track_maxy = 0
    track_iomojo_id = 0
    track_step_angle_x = 10
    track_step_angle_y = 10
    track_move_wait = 10
    track_speed = 255
    track_stepsize = 40
    quiet = on
    on_event_start = (not defined)
    on_event_end = (not defined)
    on_picture_save = (not defined)
    on_motion_detected = (not defined)
    on_area_detected = (not defined)
    on_movie_start = (not defined)
    on_movie_end = /etc/scripts/motion/make_mp4 %f %f.mp4
    on_camera_lost = (not defined)
    sql_log_image = on
    sql_log_snapshot = off
    sql_log_mpeg = on
    sql_log_timelapse = off
    sql_query = insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%C', '%C')
    mysql_db = webcam
    mysql_host = localhost
    mysql_user = webcam
    mysql_password = ******
    pgsql_db = (not defined)
    pgsql_host = localhost
    pgsql_user = (not defined)
    pgsql_password = (not defined)
    pgsql_port = 5432
    video_pipe = (not defined)
    motion_video_pipe = (not defined)

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Thread 4

    setup_mode = off
    videodevice = /dev/video2
    v4l2_palette = 8
    input = 2
    norm = 0
    frequency = 0
    rotate = 0
    width = 560
    height = 416
    framerate = 5
    minimum_frame_time = 0
    netcam_url = (not defined)
    netcam_userpass = (not defined)
    netcam_http = 1.0
    netcam_proxy = (not defined)
    netcam_tolerant_check = off
    auto_brightness = on
    brightness = 0
    contrast = 0
    saturation = 255
    hue = 0
    roundrobin_frames = 1
    roundrobin_skip = 1
    switchfilter = off
    threshold = 300
    threshold_tune = on
    noise_level = 32
    noise_tune = off
    despeckle = EedDl
    area_detect = (not defined)
    mask_file = (not defined)
    smart_mask_speed = 1
    lightswitch = 0
    minimum_motion_frames = 1
    pre_capture = 5
    post_capture = 200
    gap = 20
    max_mpeg_time = 300
    output_all = off
    output_normal = on
    output_motion = off
    quality = 75
    ppm = off
    ffmpeg_cap_new = on
    ffmpeg_cap_motion = off
    ffmpeg_timelapse = 0
    ffmpeg_timelapse_mode = daily
    ffmpeg_bps = 1000000
    ffmpeg_variable_bitrate = 0
    ffmpeg_video_codec = msmpeg4
    ffmpeg_deinterlace = on
    snapshot_interval = 0
    locate = off
    text_right = %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q
    text_left = ******
    text_changes = on
    text_event = %Y%m%d%H%M%S
    text_double = on
    target_dir = /var/www/html/pics/cam4
    snapshot_filename = %d/3%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%v-snap
    jpeg_filename = %d/3%Y%m%d%H%M%S--%v-%q-moti
    movie_filename = %d/%v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
    timelapse_filename = %d/1%Y%m%d-%v-timelapse
    webcam_port = 8008
    webcam_quality = 75
    webcam_motion = off
    webcam_maxrate = 5
    webcam_localhost = off
    webcam_limit = 0
    track_type = 0
    track_auto = off
    track_port = (not defined)
    track_motorx = 0
    track_motory = 0
    track_maxx = 0
    track_maxy = 0
    track_iomojo_id = 0
    track_step_angle_x = 10
    track_step_angle_y = 10
    track_move_wait = 10
    track_speed = 255
    track_stepsize = 40
    quiet = on
    on_event_start = (not defined)
    on_event_end = (not defined)
    on_picture_save = (not defined)
    on_motion_detected = (not defined)
    on_area_detected = (not defined)
    on_movie_start = (not defined)
    on_movie_end = /etc/scripts/motion/make_mp4 %f %f.mp4
    on_camera_lost = (not defined)
    sql_log_image = on
    sql_log_snapshot = off
    sql_log_mpeg = on
    sql_log_timelapse = off
    sql_query = insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%C', '%C')
    mysql_db = webcam
    mysql_host = localhost
    mysql_user = webcam
    mysql_password = ******
    pgsql_db = (not defined)
    pgsql_host = localhost
    pgsql_user = (not defined)
    pgsql_password = (not defined)
    pgsql_port = 5432
    video_pipe = (not defined)
    motion_video_pipe = (not defined)

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Thread 5

    setup_mode = off
    videodevice = 0
    v4l2_palette = 8
    input = 2
    norm = 0
    frequency = 0
    rotate = 0
    width = 560
    height = 416
    framerate = 5
    minimum_frame_time = 0
    netcam_url = http://192.168.1.130/cgi-bin/net_jpeg.cgi
    netcam_userpass = (not defined)
    netcam_http = 1.0
    netcam_proxy = (not defined)
    netcam_tolerant_check = off
    auto_brightness = on
    brightness = 0
    contrast = 0
    saturation = 255
    hue = 0
    roundrobin_frames = 1
    roundrobin_skip = 1
    switchfilter = off
    threshold = 300
    threshold_tune = on
    noise_level = 32
    noise_tune = off
    despeckle = EedDl
    area_detect = (not defined)
    mask_file = (not defined)
    smart_mask_speed = 1
    lightswitch = 0
    minimum_motion_frames = 1
    pre_capture = 5
    post_capture = 200
    gap = 20
    max_mpeg_time = 300
    output_all = off
    output_normal = on
    output_motion = off
    quality = 75
    ppm = off
    ffmpeg_cap_new = on
    ffmpeg_cap_motion = off
    ffmpeg_timelapse = 0
    ffmpeg_timelapse_mode = daily
    ffmpeg_bps = 1000000
    ffmpeg_variable_bitrate = 0
    ffmpeg_video_codec = msmpeg4
    ffmpeg_deinterlace = on
    snapshot_interval = 0
    locate = off
    text_right = %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q
    text_left = HD
    text_changes = off
    text_event = %Y%m%d%H%M%S
    text_double = on
    target_dir = /var/www/html/pics/cam5
    snapshot_filename = %d/4%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%v-snap
    jpeg_filename = %d/4%Y%m%d%H%M%S--%v-%q-moti
    movie_filename = %d/%v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
    timelapse_filename = %d/4%Y%m%d-%v-timelapse
    webcam_port = 8009
    webcam_quality = 75
    webcam_motion = off
    webcam_maxrate = 5
    webcam_localhost = off
    webcam_limit = 0
    track_type = 0
    track_auto = off
    track_port = (not defined)
    track_motorx = 0
    track_motory = 0
    track_maxx = 0
    track_maxy = 0
    track_iomojo_id = 0
    track_step_angle_x = 10
    track_step_angle_y = 10
    track_move_wait = 10
    track_speed = 255
    track_stepsize = 40
    quiet = on
    on_event_start = (not defined)
    on_event_end = (not defined)
    on_picture_save = (not defined)
    on_motion_detected = (not defined)
    on_area_detected = (not defined)
    on_movie_start = (not defined)
    on_movie_end = /etc/scripts/motion/make_mp4 %f %f.mp4
    on_camera_lost = (not defined)
    sql_log_image = on
    sql_log_snapshot = off
    sql_log_mpeg = on
    sql_log_timelapse = off
    sql_query = insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%C', '%C')
    mysql_db = webcam
    mysql_host = localhost
    mysql_user = webcam
    mysql_password = *******
    pgsql_db = (not defined)
    pgsql_host = localhost
    pgsql_user = (not defined)
    pgsql_password = (not defined)
    pgsql_port = 5432
    video_pipe = (not defined)
    motion_video_pipe = (not defined)

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Environment

Motion version:	3.2.12
ffmpeg version:	0.8.6-1 SVN-r18270
Libraries:	ffmpeg, mysql
Server OS:	3.2.0-4-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 3.2.46-1+deb7u1 x86_64 GNU/Linux

-- JohnBadger - 12 Oct 2013

Answer