Trixology

WeatherCat => WeatherCat General Discussion => Topic started by: RicknTX on April 29, 2022, 09:08:15 PM

Title: WC 3.1.3 - Camera image stops updating
Post by: RicknTX on April 29, 2022, 09:08:15 PM
Howdy!

I've got a webcam hooked up to my MacMini running WC3.1.3 and it works great.  I can see the image posting via the web template to my website and everything.  This usually runs good for several days before the mage just stops updating.  If I go into the console and pull up Tools - Live image, it shows that frozen image from the last time it got stuck and not the live image itself.  I'm not seeing any other issues with the data being pulled or with the camera itself.

The only fix I've found so far is just just close out of WC and then just relaunch it.  Everything comes back up without error and if I go into Tools - Live image afterward, it starts showing the live image again. 

I don't see any errors and the only clue that something is wrong is on my webpage where the image is showing outdated but with the current stamps on the image.  No errors are showing in the console or anything to hint that there's a problem at all.  The live image will continue updating for a few days before it gets stuck again and just keeps updating the web template with what it believes is the current live image. 

Has anyone seen anything like this or maybe resolved it on their setup?  It's not a huge thing, but it would be great to have it updating consistently without the image capture getting stuck and not refreshing w/o closing the app and relaunching it fresh.  No reboots of the MacMini or anything are required to get it back, nor do I need to unplug anything from the computer like the USB cable or anything.  I just close and relaunch the WC app itself and everything is happy again for a while.

Thanks so much again!
+Rick
Title: Re: WC 3.1.3 - Camera image stops updating
Post by: Blicj11 on April 29, 2022, 10:14:38 PM
RicknTX:

First, as this is your first post, Welcome to the WC forum. Glad to have you aboard.

Second, If you live in Texas, I've been there! We raised our family just outside of Houston.

And Finally, I've had the freeze issue happen with my webcam as well. In my case, it happens when there is a tiny voltage jump or drop (a power blip). I just power the camera off and on and I'm back in business. I've never had to restart WC. I think it's possible the issue may be with your camera.

The next time this happens try restarting the camera and please report back.
Title: Re: WC 3.1.3 - Camera image stops updating
Post by: RicknTX on April 29, 2022, 10:39:57 PM
Howdy!!

Thanks for the welcome!  We're originally from Florida, but got to Texas as quick as we could (as the saying goes).  We love it here!  I used to live down outside of San Antonio, but we relocated to the country life about 3 hrs NW of San Antonio to escape the rise in crime and chaos that was quickly ballooning with all the growth and other ill activities.  We've been here in August and love this little town of 390 people. 

I've been around and using the product for years and love it.  I'll give that a shot instead of closing/restarting WC and see if that helps. Interestingly enough, it has only happened in the wee morning hours overnight too on the times that it has locked up the image.  It is quite possible though since this is connected to an old MacMini that maybe there's a blimp on the USB port like you mentioned. 

I'll let ya know what we see next time it happens!!

+Rick
Title: Re: WC 3.1.3 - Camera image stops updating
Post by: xairbusdriver on April 30, 2022, 12:14:13 AM
Another BIG WELCOME (since you're in TX!) to the WC forum! ThU5:-)

Does your camera have any kind of "control panel", often web-based?
Can you adjust any on-camera storage settings? Are there file size limitations you can change/edit?
Does your camera have infrared capabilities? If so, can they be disabled?

In WC, do you have "Disable Webcam At Night" checked (enabled)?
I assume you have "Log Informational Web-Cam Messages" checked (enabled).

Quote
the only clue that something is wrong is on my webpage where the image is showing outdated but with the current stamps on the image
[interesting]
I'm assuming that you are using WC create that information. If so, I suspect that problem is, indeed, with the camera; it appears WC is simply accepting whatever the camera is sending. WC is great, but it does not yet detect that the image doesn't seem to be changing! [lol]