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🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: GMBAL4 on October 31, 2010, 05:51:01 PM

Title: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on October 31, 2010, 05:51:01 PM

   Hey guys I have the home automation software active home pro I have 2 cameras setup and ready to go however when I click on the front yard cam I get a blank screen everything is hooked up the way it should be just no picture or video ?? thanks for any help
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: Brian H on October 31, 2010, 06:26:00 PM
What program are you using with the AHP CM15A combination to see the cameras?
Can you test the camera by temporally putting the video into a TV or monitor to see if it is working.
Are the cameras addressable power supplies set to the same House Code and Unit group of 1-4;5-8;9-12 or 13-16?
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: HA Dave on October 31, 2010, 07:11:26 PM
Quote from: GMBAL4 on October 31, 2010, 05:51:01 PM
...... I have 2 cameras setup ....... when I click on the front yard cam I get a blank screen....

What happens when you click the other (of the 2) camera?
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on October 31, 2010, 07:35:39 PM

yes the cameras work wit the TV perfectly as of what software I`m not sure whatever came with the active home pro ?? just will not give me a picture
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: Brian H on October 31, 2010, 07:45:42 PM
Neither camera gives you a picture on the PC or just one of them?
Using the X10 VA11A or VA12A USB video module on the PC?

Software maybe IWatchOut/Iwitness.

Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on October 31, 2010, 09:55:06 PM

  Yes the software is iwatch and I`M  using the VA11A usb adapter and the cameras are set to house code A the cams work with my remote device I got from X10 I can switch between 2 cams with no problems
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on October 31, 2010, 11:24:12 PM

  I have no problems viewing the cams on the TV just going thru the new software on my PC I get no pic
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: Don N on November 01, 2010, 10:45:15 AM
Is the VA11A driver loaded properly on your PC?  Go to Device Manager and verify if the driver is loaded.
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 12:57:28 PM
ok i went to device manager however where do I look for this driver ?? what would it be under ?
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 01:05:19 PM
Should be under "Imaging Devices" and another should be under "Universal Serial Devices".
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: Noam on November 01, 2010, 01:08:14 PM
What operating system are you using?
As far as I know, the VA11A does not work with Windows 7, and there are reports that *some* people were able to make it work with Vista, but you might need a VA12A instead.
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 01:33:12 PM

 I am using Windows XP when I plug in my usb cables and under USB controllers I see USB Active Home( ACPI compliant ?? I do not see the VA11A USB and I also dont see the Imaging Devices
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 01:37:23 PM
just activated my AHP and when I go to live feed all i get is a black box it was a blue box still no pic as of yet
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 01:47:32 PM

  Apparently on the x10 web site in my AHP software i suppose to add or drop cams for them to viewed WHERE do I do this at ?? I can see front porch driveway cam etc but where are my cams to drag or drop ??
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 01:57:10 PM
It sounds like to me that the va11 is not setup.  Unplug the va11 and plug it back in and see if windows sees the new hardware.  Are you plugging the va11 into a usb port or a usb hub? Powered hub?  If plugging into a hub try plugging directly into a usb port and see if that helps.
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 02:09:02 PM
I think i found my problem I dont have USB 2.0 could this be my issues ?
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 02:10:52 PM


 Man this sucks !! I hope this is not the problem !!
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: HA Dave on November 01, 2010, 02:11:24 PM
Quote from: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 02:09:02 PM
... I dont have USB 2.0

Sounds like you found the problem.

If your PC isn't too old... you might be able to fix this with a USB 2 card.
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 02:16:35 PM

   well crap I`m using a laptop cant install a USB 2.0 Card just my luck  B:(
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 02:19:21 PM
you might want to look at this.  http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=ubuntu&channel=cs&q=usb2+pcmcia+card&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6501718502005786036&ei=aQTPTOi-McymnwfbqfAW&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDsQ8wIwAA#

or this one:  http://www.usb-ware.com/usb-2-pcmcia-card-2-port-ub502.htm
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 02:25:26 PM
Yes, you will need the va12 to work with AHP and Windows 7
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 02:28:32 PM
GMBAL4, where did your other posts go?
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: HA Dave on November 01, 2010, 02:29:05 PM
Quote from: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 02:19:21 PM
you might want to look at this.  http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=ubuntu&channel=cs&q=usb2+pcmcia+card&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6501718502005786036&ei=aQTPTOi-McymnwfbqfAW&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDsQ8wIwAA#

or this one:  http://www.usb-ware.com/usb-2-pcmcia-card-2-port-ub502.htm

Excellent hawk1 (and helpful). When I saw your post... I deleted my most recent post... and accidently deleted one by GMBAL4 as well.  Sorry GMBAL4
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 02:34:48 PM
Thats okay to me.  I thought I was posting to myself for a minute!  Or going crazy!   rofl
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 01, 2010, 02:55:06 PM

    You guys have been awesome thanks for the help !!
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: hawk1 on November 01, 2010, 04:23:22 PM
You are very welcome!    >!
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: GMBAL4 on November 15, 2010, 12:29:01 PM
DO I need the VA12 to work with windows XP or do I keep what I have !! I`m ordering the 2.0 usb for my laptop
Title: Re: cant get cameras to work ?
Post by: Brian H on November 15, 2010, 12:42:46 PM
Here is the VA11A-VA12A information from the wiki.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/VA11A