marco bartolacci

Q: Webcam freezes while Skyping

Hi Everybody!

I have a pretty annoying problem with my macbook pro. Lately these days I've noticed that during a skype conversation, the green light beside the webcam turns off for a sec and then turns on again. After this, the my webcam image on Skype freezes and keeps doing the same repetitive movements forever. Then I have to return the call and do another one. Why's that? It happens more often when the internet connection is not really good. But I tried with another computer on the same connection and it doesn't freeze. Could it be a problem with drivers? How can I solve it? Thanks for your answers. Have a nice day. Marco.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on May 25, 2013 7:45 AM

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Q: Webcam freezes while Skyping

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) May 25, 2013 11:59 AM in response to marco bartolacci
    Level 9 (73,239 points)
    Applications
    May 25, 2013 11:59 AM in response to marco bartolacci

    HI,

     

    Are the two computers running the same version of Skype ?

     

    If they are, are they also running the same OS version ?

     

    After that the answer is more likely to be found on the Skype site.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png
    7:59 PM      Saturday; May 25, 2013

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by marco bartolacci,

    marco bartolacci marco bartolacci May 26, 2013 7:14 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 26, 2013 7:14 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hello!

    Thanks for your reply. Do you mean the computers of me and the partner on Skype? If so, no. The partner's computer is running windows 7. And if you're referring to the other computer I tested to call the same person, it runs windows as well. So I wouldn't know really where the problem comes from....Thanks again! Marco.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root May 26, 2013 11:32 AM in response to marco bartolacci
    Level 9 (72,507 points)
    iTunes
    May 26, 2013 11:32 AM in response to marco bartolacci
  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) May 26, 2013 12:31 PM in response to marco bartolacci
    Level 9 (73,239 points)
    Applications
    May 26, 2013 12:31 PM in response to marco bartolacci

    Hi,

     

    So from your testing it would appear to be the Skype App for Macs or as Eric is suggesting an issue with the Camera.

     

    Some Mac Laptops have had issues with the cable from the motherboard, through the hinge and up the back of the screen pulling loose in some cases and on other models getting worn at the hinge.

     

    These tend to be some of the first versions of MacBook Pros and MacBooks.

     

    However the issue appears so intermittent it is difficult to tell.

    The most common denominator is the movement of the screen to different positions rather than a one off event which you seem to describe.  i.e you would either Video chat successfully or you would not chat at all.

     

    As the issue you describe seems to happen each time your Skype Video chat it seems the app is the thing to be looking at.

    When was the last Update ?

    What sort of topics are coming up at Skype ?

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png
    8:31 PM      Sunday; May 26, 2013

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by marco bartolacci,

    marco bartolacci marco bartolacci May 26, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 26, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi!

    I've tried troubleshooting and it appears to be a problem related to Skype. Because I've tried my webcam with several other programs and I've never run into the problem, in fact the webcam works perfectly. What update do you refer to? From the App Store it says my OS version is up to date. And Skype should be the last version...Why's that? Thanks!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Helpful

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) May 26, 2013 1:09 PM in response to marco bartolacci
    Level 9 (73,239 points)
    Applications
    May 26, 2013 1:09 PM in response to marco bartolacci

    Hi,

     

    I tried Skype when it first came out and was independently owned.

    I use Little Snitch to check where and on what ports an App is calling.

     

    For instance iChat using just an AIM Login will contact about 4 servers during the login process.

    These deal with the actual Login, the Buddy List (which finds out who is On  Line), the Buddy pic server and the one that deals with Status Messages (they all  tend to be separate).

     

    Of course you may have multiple AIM logins and also Jabber ones and the server count will go up.

     

    However the time I tired Skype I got to about 40 alerts from Little Snitch about servers all over the place.

    Skype does not use a central server system and seems to rely on the bandwidth of the people logged in to spread the load.

    A Buddy of mine claimed he allowed it to continue and got to over a hundred connections.

     

    That would seem to make things very vulnerable.

     

    So I have not trusted Skype for many years.

    Now it is owned by Microsoft  and I have not really followed the progress it may have made.

    I would tend to check the Skype web site and then the App Store to see if the "Latest" appear to match.

    I would not like to guess at the time it takes to get any Update listed on the App Store.

     

    I did see this on the Skype site

     

     

    Skype for Mac

    • 1GHz Intel processor.
    • Mac OS X Snow Leopard and above.
    • 100 MB free disk space.
    • Either USB or regular headset if your Mac does not have a built-in microphone.
    • Download drivers if you are using an external webcam.
    • For voice calls recommend broadband connection with 100 kbps down / 100 kbps up.
    • For group video calling everyone on the call needs Skype 5.0 for Windows or Mac or higher plus webcams, and at least one person needs a group video calling subscription. For best quality we recommend you use a high-speed broadband connection of 4Mbps down/512kbps up and a computer with a Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz processor. As a minimum you’ll need a high-speed broad connection of 512kbps down/128kbps up and a computer with a 1 GHz processor.

     

    The Mac running OS 10.6.8 has drivers included  for all USB 2.0 USB Video Class (UVC) cameras that you could plugin.

    The drivers the link points to are for USB 1.1 cameras which would be very difficult to even find nowadays  (pre OS X 10.4.8 OS-wise or around the time of Vista  on Windows machines).

     

    The Minimum Speeds exceed those needed for iChat or Messages in 4 way Video Chats.

     

    It seems to suggest the version is number 5.

     

    3Sigcopy2.png
    9:09 PM      Sunday; May 26, 2013

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) May 27, 2013 12:56 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (73,239 points)
    Applications
    May 27, 2013 12:56 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    4thanx.gif  for the  1helpful.png Points

    3Sigcopy2.png
    8:56 PM      Monday; May 27, 2013

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by marco bartolacci,

    marco bartolacci marco bartolacci May 27, 2013 1:01 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 27, 2013 1:01 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi,

    You're the most welcomed, you really helped me out understanding what is going on inside my Macbook. Anyway I have downloaded the latest update for Skype. Let's see how it rolls and if I have more problems I'll write back here. Thanks a lot so far!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) May 27, 2013 1:13 PM in response to marco bartolacci
    Level 9 (73,239 points)
    Applications
    May 27, 2013 1:13 PM in response to marco bartolacci

    No Problem.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png
    9:13 PM      Monday; May 27, 2013

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by iplatwn,

    iplatwn iplatwn May 22, 2015 9:09 AM in response to marco bartolacci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2015 9:09 AM in response to marco bartolacci

    I know it's been a long time since your last post but now (in 2015 ) I have the same problem with my new MB Pro. Could you please tell me what you did with this problem? Thanx in advance.