Note:
Errors have been reported when using these drivers with Windows XP Service
Pack 1 installed.
IONetworks has purchased the rights to the ViCAM camera (aka 3COM
HomeConnect). The IONetworks version, dubbed
WatchPort
V supports the following Windows Operating Systems Windows 95, 98, NT4.0,
2000, ME, SE, XP & XP Embedded. WatchPort V can be purchased
directly from IONetworks for $99.00 U.S. using the
USBMan Special Link.
Good News! Working
drivers are available for the popular 3COM Home Connect camera and the Windows
XP operating system. Although, the drivers were not specifically
developed or released for WinXP, testing here at USBMan and by the camera
developer conclude that the drivers do work with WinXP.
Background
Vista Imaging of San Carlos, CA is the
manufacturer of the chipset for the Home Connect camera and developer of the
original camera product known as the ViCAM.
In May of 2001, 3COM
Corporation announced that it would no
longer sell either the popular Home Connect USB PC Digital Video Camera or the
Home Connect Video Camera Lite. A press release stated that 3Com would
refocus its strategy and concentrate on business network solutions and
products where it has leadership positions. This new focus did NOT
include the camera line and online sale of all 3COM cameras discontinued on
May 31, 2001.
In early 1999, the USB ViCAM
was
licensed to 3Com and sold as the 3Com HomeConnect PC Digital
Camera. Under
this agreement, 3Com took over all manufacturing, sales and support of this
product. The Home Connect Lite Camera does NOT utilize the Vista chipset
and is NOT supported by these drivers.
Regarding the 3COM
Home Connect camera product, Vista Imaging has posted the following
information
"As we are
committed to the development of our next generation technology, which will
allow for even better and less expensive products of this type, we have no
plans to re-enter the market with this product or do further driver
development."
Vista Imaging does NOT
support the 3COM version of the USB camera.
Update:
IONetworks has purchased the rights to the ViCAM camera (aka 3COM
HomeConnect). The IONetworks version, dubbed
WatchPort
V supports the following Windows Operating Systems Windows 95, 98, NT4.0,
2000, ME, SE, XP & XP Embedded. WatchPort V can be purchased
directly from IONetworks for $99.00 U.S. using the
USBMan Special Link.
Testing
Some very brief testing using these drivers was
performed in the lab here at USBMan.
- Operating System
- Basic Equipment
- Asus - TUVX4, 512 MB PC133 SDRAM &
P3 1000
- Asus - CUSL2-C, 512 MB PC133 - SDRAM
& P3 750
- USB Host Controllers Tested
- VIA Type 5 USB Host Controller
- Intel 82801 BA/BAM
- IOGear PCI/USB 2.0 NEC EHCI
- Belkin
QuadraPort USB/PCI Card with Lucent USS344
Results
A good picture was achieved with the 3COM Home
Connect camera when connected to all of the USB host controllers tested.
Other than the generic unsigned driver warning, the drivers installed without
incident. Functional abnormalities were not detected. The original
packaged software programs that were included with the Home Connect were not
installed or tested. No conflicts were
experienced even when the camera was operated simultaneously with another
imaging device, (HP5200
USB scanner).
Conversely, after a complete WinXP system
restore to a time before the camera was installed, we were
unable to correctly initialize the same camera using the 3COM provided Win2000
drivers on our test platforms. Installation went smoothly enough but
problems with the OS and other USB devices existed.
If you have this camera and are running WinXP
the Vista Imaging driver ViCAM 6850 should do the trick.
The Driver
(From the Vista Imaging Web
Site)
Single Camera Version updated
08/10/00, 2,663KB file size, contains the latest ViViewer application, Video
for Windows (AVI) Driver, TWAIN (Scanner) Driver, and system related files.
(This is a self extracting and installation version for Windows 95, 98, ME,
NT3.51, NT4.0 & 2000 users only). NT does NOT support USB.
Re: Windows XP - There is no further development for this OS, however, these
drivers do work with the released version of Windows XP. When installing these
drivers on XP you will receive a notice that says the Vista Imaging USB ViCAM
has not passed Windows LOGO testing, but you can continue the installation.
