ZoneMinder Forums

I just installed with the Live CD and I'm very impressed. But, I don't understand why I can only get the first 4 cameras working with my 8 port card. I'm using a Kword brand 8 port card. I added the monitors using /dev/video and Device Channels 0 - 7 but only Channels 0 - 3 are working.

Since my card has 4 RCA jacks and a "duaghter" card with 4 more ports - I'm thinking maybe I need to use something like /dev/video1 with Device Channels 0 - 3. But, I don't see a /dev/video1 in the /dev directory.

Do I have to create a /dev/video1 or is there something else I need to do?

Thanks,
Matt

hi there

probly my configuration is close enough, so this may help u

configuration

PC:
DFI Lanparty NF2 Ultra B
256 MByte Infineon
AthlonXP 3200+
200 GByte WD (ATA)
Provideos PV-156 (BT878 based, 4xbt878 chip 8port - 4 onboard, another four w/ some extension mini-card)
some cheap AGP-Card (21€)
300W PSU

Cams:
im trying here with 2 BulletCams powered via PSU

ZM_LiveCD 1.19.1
Mandrake updated cooker Kernel 2.6.7


when i connect these cams to my card (#1 & #5) i figured out, that
ZM is only able to 'see' fout /dev/video devices 0-3
but somewhere i've read that if u have such cards with only 4 chips u have to add the cams as channel 0 (port #1) and channel 1 (for port #5) but both with /dev/video0

well, to cut it short ... it works ...
the cams r flickering though, but i rather think this is some hardware issue.

IMO this is because one chip works with 50 fps and used by 2 cams it can only digitalize 25 fps each. so this is how u're getting 8 cams to 4 bt878 chips, you assign each chip 2 channels (0&1)

well, i hope this helps

greetz flummox

Hi Matt,
The post by flummox has good info if your card has 4 capture chips. I am not familiar with that card but suspect that it has only one capture chip. During bootup the kernel will usually find each capture chip and recognize each one as a device. Device file system (devfs) then creates an entry in /dev for each. You should not have to create /dev/video1 yourself.

You might post to one of the hardware forums to find better info on this particular card.

Best regards
Ross