How do I setup my webcam so I can remotely access it via Orb?

**** This article is applicable only for 2.0x series of Orb ****
(To know your Orb version, click Orb tray icon - About)

There is no webcam configuration per se in Orb. All USB webcams that have a WDM driver are DirectShow-compatible and, therefore, should work in Orb. Older webcam models which only have a VFW (Video For Windows) driver are not compatible with Orb.

If your webcam also comes with a microphone that connects to your sound card, Orb will automatically stream the audio from this device along with the video.

To use your webcam in Orb, do the following:

 1. If you have not already done so, install your webcam as per your webcam manufacturer’s installation instructions, and verify that it works in its native application or other applications, such as IM, chat, etc.

 2. Launch Orb, and verify that your webcam is properly detected as a Windows Capture Device in Orb tray icon > About... > System info. If your Webcam only has a Video For Windows (VFW) entry listed, then it may not work in Orb unless you install WDM DirectShow-compatible drivers for this device.

 3. From any remote PC, log on to your Orb account at mycast.orb.com, select Open Application > TV/Webcams > click Webcams in the left Navigation panel: you should see a thumbnail image of your webcam in the main Content panel

 4. Double-click the webcam thumbnail (or select the thumbnail, then click the “Play” button) to launch your media player and stream your webcam live.

To change your webcam thumbnail:

 5. Click your webcam in the Content panel to select it

 6. Click the Change Thumbnail located under the thumbnail in the Properties panel (below the Content panel)

 7. Select one of the 3 options: fetch a file from your hard drive; download a file from a URL; or take another snapshot, then click OK

If you have more 2 or more webcams and want to label them in Orb:

 8. Click the first webcam in the Content panel to select it

 9. Roll your cursor over the “Description:” text in the Properties panel at the bottom, then click the pencil icon that pops up to display the text field

10. Enter the name of your webcam and click OK. The name should now appear under the webcam thumbnail in the Content panel

11. Repeat steps 8 to 10 for all the other webcams

Note: At this time you cannot access in Orb webcams from other PCs in your LAN: you can only access webcams that are physically connected to your orb PC.