USB Framegrabbers that are known to work with NI-IMAQ-dx

[JamesAA]

Does anybody know of any (preferably compact) USB framegrabbers, whether in a finished package, or in chip / development board form, that are known to be compatible with the IMAQ-dx capture?  I am currently using a Zarbeco Videolink USB Framegrabber, but I get an unknown error message when attempting to interface with it through NI-IMAQ-DX in both Labview 8.5 (kept around for some legacy programs), and Labview 2012.  Other USB webcams work just fine with the VI, so I know it's not an error in my code - just a problem with this particular framegrabber talking to Labview.  I also know that the framegrabber works fine, because it can be viewed in other video capture programs such as AmCap.  I'd prefer to figure out if a replacement USB framegrabber would be suitable BEFORE I make a purchase, so if anyone knows of any USB composite video framegrabbers that work well with NI-IMAQ-dx, I would appreciate the info.

[danil33]

Hi James,

                See the link below:-

                http://208.74.204.114/t5/Machine-Vision/What-USB-Video-capture-device-is-supported-by-labview/td-p/9...

[JamesAA]

I appreciate that link, but I had already looked at it, and most of that conversation focused on USB cameras and not framegrabbers.  In fact, the only reply relevant to framegrabbers stated essentially "pretty much any one should work", which I know for a fact, first hand, is not true - the framegrabber I am using works fine in AMCAP, but fails in Labview.

[Tim_O1]

Hi James,

In order for any USB camera or USB video adaptor to work with the IMAQdx driver it must be DirectShow compatible. If your Video Adaptor advertises DirectShow compatible then it should work with our IMAQdx driver. Please follow the guide lines from the link below to find a proper device.

What Cameras are Supported by the NI-IMAQ for USB Cameras Driver?
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/89E33B77CFE244E986256F8E004E0F13

If you device is DirectShow compatible and you are having issue please look through the link below.

Troubleshooting USB (DirectShow) Camera Installation Problems
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/C1BC2D93ADC392BB8625768C0060AFE7?OpenDocument

Tim O

[rawlukn]

I came across the same problem as you with a Zarbeco Videolink 2.0 USB Framegrabber. However, it appears that the problem is with their driver and not their hardware. I removed the Zarbeco drivers and installed ones for a Grabster AV 350 MX (http://www.terratec.net/en/products/driver/produkte_treiber_en_73938.html) which allows the Zarbeco Videolink 2.0 and LabVIEW to cooperate. The hardware must be quite similar.

I had designed my code using a different test DirectShow compatible device and then hit a wall when trying to use the Zarbeco Videolink 2.0. After switching drivers, it appears to work just fine with my already created code.

You may have already found a new framegrabber but hopefully this post will help someone else.