ISight Capturing Live Video

Question

hi all,
I just got a macbook with a built in isight camera. The isight works fine for photobooth and iMovie. The problem i have is capturing live footage. I'm unable to have a video chat on ichat. Also, i tried using it on ustream.tv. It doesn't work. I changed the settings on the adobe flash player but it still didn't work. So, I think the problem is capturing live video.
please help! It's frustrating me
Thanks,
Labze89

Answer 1

Thanks for clearing that up, Labze89
Based on that info, your iSight can certainly capture live video.
Ustream identifies itself as a beta site, so you should expect to encounter some problems, but you should be able to resolve them.
Good quality streaming video requires broadband speed. More info below on this subject. Contact your ISP if you need to purchase additional speed (bandwidth.)
Streaming live video also involves proper settings for your modem (and router, if you have one). If you have not recently rebooted (shut down for about a minute and then restarted) your modem and router, do so now. Be sure to let the modem's self-test finish before starting the router. Let the router's self-test finish before restarting your Mac. Rebooting sometimes is all that is required. If restarting does not correct your problem, you will need to consider other possibilities.
At least for users in the USA, enabling your router's "UP-n-P" setting is often all the router configuration that is required. However, sometimes manual port configuration is required. If so, the instructions for your router will give you the info on how to check and change the settings. What setting values you must use will come from the service (Ustream or iChat) you want to use.
If you have enabled your Mac's System Preferences > Sharing > Firewall, enabling your router's "UP-n-P" setting may allow you to stream video without additional configuration of your Mac's Firewall. If the problem persist when your Mac's Firewall is set to "On" and your router's (if you use one) UP-n-P setting is enabled, you may need to configure the necessary ports on your router and in your Mac's Firewall. Search "Help" on your Mac or see this link for Mac OS X 10.4 Help: Setting advanced firewall options.
Also, your ISP must not be blocking any ports required by the service you are attempting to use. See the ustream.tv FAQs for help on your ustream.tv problems. For your problem with streaming video, check FAQ #s 9, 7, and 15 first.
To minimize possible conflicts, disconnect all unnecessary A/V peripherals (such as eyeTV, game consoles, iPods, etc.) and quit all other applications while troubleshooting your problem. You can try adding them back one at a time once you can make your streaming work reliably.
If these and the other FAQs do not help you resolve your ustream.tv problems, and if you do not get help from some other Ustream user here, click ustream.tv's Contact Us link for email help directly from the people who determine how the site works. They should be your best source.
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If you use dial-up, or if your broadband speed is not fast enough, iChat AV will also have video problems.
The Mac OS X 10.4: iChat AV system requirements show all requirements for using iChat AV. For instance, you will not be able to use iChat's video if you do not have at least 100 Kbps broadband both up and down. You can test your internet service's uplink and downlink speed (bandwidth) at Speedtest.net.
If you need to post back for more iChat AV help, please confirm that your system meets all system requirements and list your uplink and downlink speeds in your response.
Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.10)    G5 DP 1.8  External iSight