Better Webcam Adventure

Sovol SV08 MAX
1

I have come to understand that the host board on the SV08 MAX is a blended board. It is not designed to support 30fps 1080 streaming video. It is only designed to take timelapse pics and then make a video out of it that you can view by going to the timelapse section within OrcaSlicer. I don’t know if you download it first or if it streams from there. I’ve seen this work on my computer.

The wifi connection from the SV08 is good. It is good in signal strength and it is good in bandwidth ability. The problem is NOT the wifi board, it is the CPU of the host board.

The problem is that the board will not handle the output of a given webcam because that output needs to be processed which the board simply does not have the CPU power to do. It simply can not do anymore than the webcam it came with. It comes with a webcam running at 720dpi and that streams at 0-3 frames per second. This is better than nothing.

If you hook up a “modern” webcam via a usb cable to the SV08 it will not work. No settings will make it broadcast AS A SECOND VIEWABLE webcam within OrcasSlicer. This is not OrcaSlicer’s fault. The host board simply can’t handle it so it won’t allow it.

At least, not that I’ve been able to figure out.

QUESTION: I want to view via OrcaSlicer, a second streaming video running at 1080p or better. I’ve tried several things and I can’t get those things to work either. I’m at my wits end trying to solve what should be simple to do. Any help is appreciated!

PS: No solutions involved a master’s degree in computer science will NOT be a appreciated.

What I am trying to use now:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC98XCHH?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

with:

2

First. Crowsnest is the software that integrates the camera into klipper. It only supports 1 camera.

Second. ORCA doesn’t display the printer UI. Orca launches a browser window (Edge on Windows) which then renders the chosen web UI.

Third. The layout of the web display is handled by Fluid or Mainsail running on the host. Each video window must be “pointed to” a HTTP stream accessible on your network. The browser engine then scales and displays the screen.

So you need a camera with a built in WebRTC streamer or a stand alone WebRTC streamer to plug your USB camera into or:

An Old Android Phone

  • How it works: Install a free app like IP Webcam on any unused Android phone. The app acts as a local media server encoding direct HTTP MJPEG streams.

  • Fluidd Setup: Add camera as MJPEG Stream with URL http://<PHONE_IP>:8080/video.

Many Tapo and Reolink models (under $40US) feature an exposed HTTP MJPEG substream, or can be flashed with custom open-source firmware (like ONVIF/MJPEG hacks).

If space is of primary concern and ESP32 + compatible camera (Not USB) could be an option.

3

The router and camera you linked above should work but you will need to add and configure software to the router from the command line.

OpenWRT is extremely flexible but some proficiency at the Linux terminal is expected as it is not a consumer targeted OS.

Here is an AI (Gemini) generated overview:

Required OpenWrt Packages You will need to install a few packages via the OpenWrt LuCI interface or SSH (opkg update && opkg install ...):

  • kmod-video-uvc (USB Video Class webcam drivers)

  • kmod-video-videobuf2 (Kernel video buffer modules)

  • mjpeg-streamer or ustreamer (Lightweight streaming daemons)

How It Works & Setup

  1. Plug webcam into the OpenWrt router: Linux will recognize the webcam as /dev/video0.

  2. Configure mjpeg-streamer or ustreamer: Set the daemon to grab raw MJPEG frames directly from the webcam and serve them on a local port (e.g., port 8080).

    • Launch command example:

      mjpg_streamer -i "input_uvc.so -d /dev/video0 -r 1280x720 -f 15" -o "output_http.so -p 8080"

  3. Fluidd Configuration:

    • Camera Type: MJPEG Stream

    • Stream URL: http://<OPENWRT_ROUTER_IP>:8080/?action=stream

4

Unless Sovol have limited it on the Max, it supports more than one camera. I was testing a second camera on one of the Zero’s just yesterday.

5

Hi arcdragon,

Personally, I installed a generic camera on the SV08 Max about eight months ago; it worked, but I didn’t find the setup compelling enough to keep it. That said, it is entirely feasible via the USB port (though the process requires some tweaks to open the port, configure codecs, etc., as well as modifying the crowsnest.conf file so the system recognizes the new camera).

However, if you want to create 1080p (1920x1080) timelapses, you generally get 10 frames per second, which is fine with the stock camera;
and if you use Obico Cloud or a local setup (in “native snapshot” mode), it works well.

On the other hand, if you use streaming for Obico mode like I do, you have to lower the resolution to 720x540 to get a maximum of 4 frames per second; otherwise, the H616 processor load hits 100%. Plus, you have to compile and install Janus to get streaming working, since the module isn’t available natively for Debian 11 (Bullseye) on the CB1 board.

Ultimately, it depends on what you’re looking for: “snapshot” mode for Obico and 10 frames pers seconds timelapses work very well it’s up to you. You can’t push the processor’s performance beyond its limits.