HOWTO: See video with NHJ, Ltd Che-ez! Snap / iClick Tiny VGA Digital Camera

[Pitxyoki]

You can see the old (deprecated) version of this HOWTO here. The attachments on this post are only relevant to that old version.

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If your webcam reports something similar to this:

$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 2770:9120 NHJ, Ltd Che-ez! Snap / iClick Tiny VGA Digital Camera

Then it is now fully supported by Ubuntu (version 10.04, Lucid Lynx).

Ubuntu has, however, a bug that needs a workaround:

$ sudo modprobe -rv gspca_sq905
$ sudo modprobe -v gspca_sq905

You have to do this after every reboot or after every time you connect the camera plug.

After this you can use XawTV or VLC to see video from your webcam:
XawTV must not need any configuration. Just install and run it.
With VLC, use the "Open Capture Device" (Ctrl+C) menu and point the "Video device name" to /dev/video or /dev/video0.
aMSN must also recognise the webcam without any issues.
See the mentioned bugreport for tips on making Skype work with it (I haven't tested it).


You may also be able to download still photos or record your own movies with xawtv. Notice that these procedures were not confirmed by me on the most recent versions of Ubuntu.
Recording movies with VLC should work without any issues.

If you detect any problems with this webcam, please check if they are already reported on Ubuntu's bug-tracker. If not, feel free to submit a new ticket.


This is the full output that must be seen on the console:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo modprobe -rv gspca_sq905
rmmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_sq905.ko
rmmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_main.ko
rmmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.ko
rmmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.ko

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo modprobe -v gspca_sq905
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.ko
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/videodev.ko
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_main.ko
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/gspca/gspca_sq905.ko

...and on /var/log/syslog:

May 10 12:07:24 ubuntu kernel: [ 1554.561023] usbcore: deregistering interface driver sq905
May 10 12:07:24 ubuntu kernel: [ 1554.561065] sq905: deregistered
May 10 12:07:24 ubuntu kernel: [ 1554.576046] gspca: main deregistered

May 10 12:07:39 ubuntu kernel: [ 1568.757217] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
May 10 12:07:39 ubuntu kernel: [ 1568.789711] gspca: main v2.7.0 registered
May 10 12:07:39 ubuntu kernel: [ 1568.840283] gspca: probing 2770:9120
May 10 12:07:39 ubuntu kernel: [ 1568.953414] gspca: probe ok
May 10 12:07:39 ubuntu kernel: [ 1568.953475] usbcore: registered new interface driver sq905
May 10 12:07:39 ubuntu kernel: [ 1568.954649] sq905: registered