Need help with a Asus 27" monitor with webcam problem.

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Level 1

4 points

Need help with a Asus 27" monitor with webcam problem.

Need help with a Asus 27" monitor I bought. Model VK278Q. The issue is that the webcam will not work properly. Various applications can see the webcam, but I just get a black box. From what I have read, the issue seems to be that there are no official drivers for the webcam.

I thought someone in this community might be able to offer some help before I return the monitor. I read somewhere that it may be possible to tweat the OS so that the iSight software will work for the monitor webcam.

Thx

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 11, 2012 3:09 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

ccatlett1980

Level 1

4 points

Oct 25, 2015 4:10 PM in response to JohnLane

I finally realized after hours of reading these forums, switching between HDMI and DVI cables, downloading various software, and testing all of the solutions provided, that the built-in webcam actually connects separately through the USB connection on the monitor. Duh!

Seems counterintuitive for a built in camera to require extra cables. I simply added a USB cable from the monitor to my 2014 mac mini (yosemite 10.10.5) then set the camera in Skype preferences to the ASUS USB2.0 camera that it recognized - And voila!

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Answer 2

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Mar 11, 2012 6:43 PM in response to JohnLane

I neither use an Asus monitor, nor have I seen discission of or solution for your problem.

If the retailer who sold you an Asus monitor for your Mac system cannot help you, the best technical help for your Asus monitor will likely be available directly from Asus Support. Use the contact info provided with your monitor or see the Asus Support page: http://support.asus.com/ServiceHome.aspx

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early09) 2.93Ghz OSX 10.7.3 24" LED Cinema Display
MBP 15" i7 (Early'11) OSX 10.7.3 External iSights
13" MBP (Mid'09) 2.26GHz OSX 10.7.3 iBook SE 366MHz OSX 10.3.9

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Answer 3

Apr 9, 2012 11:07 AM in response to JohnLane

According to the ASUS support website, ASUS states that the webcam is supported under MAC OS version 10.4.3 or later, however, I have not see this first hand or confirmed from others that it is working. Can anybody verify this?

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Answer 4

JohnLane Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 9, 2012 11:36 AM in response to NAVARRO360

I talked to their service center and they said not supported. And, that I had to talk to the software drivr company as they only handled hard ware. Ugh. We need a software driver for a Mac OSX. Any idea where / if I can get this? Thx

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Answer 5

Apr 9, 2012 12:23 PM in response to JohnLane

No, but I have been researching for answers before I buy this monitor. So no luck on your side huh? How is everything else? I am looking to get this monitor for my macbook air 11" and set up VK278Q as an external monitor. It seems like there is no luck in getting the webcam working. I am close to looking else where for a montior....

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Answer 6

JohnLane Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 9, 2012 2:31 PM in response to NAVARRO360

I guess where I am frustrated is that I thought there would be a generic webcam driver that would work on Mac OSX... I am not sure why this monitor needs a special driver and can't work on native iSight driver. That's why I am not a tech, I guess.

I started looking for a replacement monitor was was going to send this back to Amazon. But, I could not find many 27" monitors that even had webcams... Even then there was no way to know if the webcam even worked on OSX.

So, now when I need to use webcam, I pop open the MBP and use the iSight; most times MBP is closed and pushed under monitor stand. If you find a monitor with webcam that works for OSX, pls let me know.

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Answer 7

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Apr 9, 2012 3:34 PM in response to JohnLane

If you cannot get the cam you already have working, and if you really don't want to or cannot use your Mac's inbuilt cam, consider adding an external cam that is compatible like the ones discussed here:

http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/

All UVC cams are compatible with Mac 10.4.9 and later without any software or driver additions.

If you don't need any fancy features, some of the UVC cams may fit within your budget.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.7.3

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Answer 8

Apr 9, 2012 8:18 PM in response to EZ Jim

EZ Jim,

Thanks for the input, however, the fact that Asus cannot provide support nor that their monitors with built-in webcams do not work with iOS is simply unsat. Of course there are other venues just like you have stated, but for this specific monitor, there is no simple fix? Ridonculous. I would want to be able this Asus monitor and have everything work, including the webcam.

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Answer 9

Apr 9, 2012 8:21 PM in response to JohnLane

JohnLane,

I have a friend who is selling me this monitor for a good deal and that is why I want this monitor. I just can't justify purchasing a new or even used Apple cinema display (heck, even the 24" is pricey). Will definitely let you know if i have any luck on a montior with a webcam that is other than Apple.

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Answer 10

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Apr 10, 2012 6:44 AM in response to NAVARRO360

NAVARRO360 wrote: ... there is no simple fix? ...

Eureka! You now understand the situation.

Even the old standard for Mac OS X drivers for non-compatible cams, macam, says that it has no driver for ASUS (20") monitor camera.

The macam status shows:

not working (no documentation)

With no working driver for the 20" ASUS, it is not surprising that there is none for the 27" either. There may be good reason that ASUS won't (or can't) offer either the technical documentation or a Mac driver for their monitor's inbuilt webcam. However, they apparently do not publish that information.

If ASUS Technical Support cannot provide the driver you need for OS X, the ASUS will continue to be a ridonculous (sic) monitor whose webcam will not work with your OS X Mac. The only other simple fix I can think of is to use the ASUS with a different PC that is compatible with this monitor and its inbuilt webcam. What you do is certainly your choice.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.7.3

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Answer 11

Apr 10, 2012 8:04 AM in response to EZ Jim

I will pass on ASUS.

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Answer 12

JohnLane Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 10, 2012 8:44 AM in response to EZ Jim

Hi guys. Let me thank you for contributing to this thread. Even tho the outcome is likely the same, I appreciate having people to discuss with.

Let me throw an odd wrinkle here and see if it e a clue: I downloaded and used an application called ManyCam. The short answer is that it did not work well. But, interestingly, when I was in Skype and selected one of the manycam webcams from the preference panel, I could see myself in the webcam window. The screen was most green and distorted and the images were backwards/mirror, but IT WAS NOT BLACK.

Unfortunately, Faceting and iChat don't seem to have the ability to see virtual webcams, so I could not test to see how the webcam pic looked in those environments.

So, I am still hopeful that there is a driver or virtual webcam software that will make the ASUS native webcam operate.

Does this add any thing important to the discussion / investigation?

Thx!

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Answer 13

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,488 points

Apr 10, 2012 11:19 AM in response to JohnLane

See post #3 http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=615009

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Answer 14

JohnLane Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 10, 2012 11:31 AM in response to Defcom-UK

Hi. Even more frustrating that it works for some and not others. I followed the instructions from the post and same thing: blue light went on, selected ASUS WebCam 2.0, but picture all black. Since webcam light went on and iChat can see the monitor, that tells me the cables are connected... See attached screenshot.

I know there is an answer out there...

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Answer 15

Apr 12, 2012 8:05 AM in response to JohnLane

Have the same problem runing lion on MBP with Asus 27"screen.

recently found, after much searching that USB Vision capture (free trial at cnet search) works with the asus built in cam at the resolution setting of 320x240 only (have to change under record/video setting in menu bar.............but it works!

Maybe this is the clue why it is recognised by OS X but not diplaying?

Hope this helps to find a solution - the cam has high brightness, but hopefully not that poorer resolution.

Regards,

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