webcam Plugin Image problem

[azchrisf]

I have a problem with the Webcam plugin's daily "video" going way too fast, displaying like 3 frames in under a quarter of a second or skipping altogether. I have it set for 1 second intervals per image, and it works sometimes, othertimes not. I have no idea what causes the behavior.

Here is a video of the problem:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/awb1g4nzs0eal43/MT.mp4?dl=0

[Dehatter]

Any chance of adding your pages link or putting it in your profile so I can see what is happening?

Tom

[dmgould]

I think it is http://www.copperwoodwx.com/meteo/plugi ... /index.php.

I see what he means. It jumps several frames at a time and is jerky looking. For starters I would try increasing it higher than 1 second just as a test to see if it stabilizes or continues the jerky playback except slower. Interesting problem.

[Dehatter]

Yeah, I was just wondering if it was a server issue, an internet issue, or a computer issue. I would like and try and duplicate the problem on my machine.

Tom

[Dehatter]

Yes, it does it for me too. 3 frames in 1 sec, pause, then 3 more. Interesting issue. Of note, it does NOT do it the first time. Only after selecting a different date, but then it does it all the time after the first, even if I reselect the original date.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j51aewutiusjc ... 1.mp4?dl=0

Then:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0cqntb4h7174f ... 2.mp4?dl=0

Tom

[azchrisf]

Exactly, it's a weird issue.
Tom, out of curiosity are you using Chrome?

[dmgould]

I just tried Chrome, Firefox and IE and it does the same thing in all of them.

[azchrisf]

Well I'll guess Jachym will need to chime in then.

[Dehatter]

I used Chrome, IE11, and Edge.

Issue was repeated on all three.

The videos I posted were from Chrome.

Not doing it on my page though. Not sure why yours would be different.

Agree that it is Jachym for the win.

Tom

[Jachym]

Very strange because for me it works fine, Im using the latest Chrome and FF

[Jachym]

The only thing I can think of is that on a slower PC it might cause delays as the page is still loading and then it triggers all the updates in a very short period of time

[MonyMony]

I will add that I am noticing this now on my site too. I use a Mac and can duplicate this with Firefox but with Safari the frames all show but there a unusual pause after every three frames. I guess some type of browser update would explain why something like this would appear suddenly as no changes I know of have been made to the plugin for some time.

[Dehatter]

Well I said it was not doing it on my page, but if I use 1 sec as the delay it happens to me too.

Always works correctly the first date selected in the calendar, but if you select any other date after the first one the issue appears. This is true even if you go back to the original date you selected.

Issue repeated at every site I know that uses the plugin:
http://www.wessexweather.net/meteotempl ... /index.php
http://favershamweather.org/template/pl ... /index.php
https://www.andretti.pl/template/plugin ... /index.php

I can also confirm that after searching hundreds of sites off the usermap, many people are using the block, but few are using the plugin. Probably the space issue.

Additionally, the time between the three 'quick' images seems to be a function of the time selected for the delay. The longer the delay, the longer the time between the 3 'quick' images. I have left mine at a 3 sec delay so you can see this anomaly.

Tom

[azchrisf]

The only thing I can think of is that on a slower PC it might cause delays as the page is still loading and then it triggers all the updates in a very short period of time

I don't think a Core2 i7700 with 8 cores at 2.8Ghz is a slow PC

[Jachym]

No,but no matter which PC I use (home, office) I always see the correct way of displaying it

[Dehatter]

Jachym,

Just to be clear. It looks good to you even after changing the date?

It looks good for everyone the first date. It only occurs after you change the date.

Tom

[Jachym]

Yes... even if I change the date, perfectly fine

[Dehatter]

Really weird because it does it for every website running the plugin for many of us.

And I do not have a slow computer or internet.

i7-6700HQ Quad Core with 64GB ram and 1TB SSD storage.
200MB/s Internet speed with AC1900 Wifi (throughput 417Mbps measured where sited).

Unfortunately not mine but the company lets me use it for work everynow and then.

Tom

[azchrisf]

I also changed it to 2 seconds a day or two ago, Jachym. Be glad to switch it back if you need it for debugging.

[Dehatter]

I was wondering if anyone else expirenced this...

Each time a clicked a date the timelapse added an extra frame.
as in the first time it loads it is correct.
chage the date and I get 2 fast ... pause....2 fast.
change the date and I get 3 fast pause 3 fast
change the date and I get 4, almost no apparent pause,
change the date and it seems to jump (actually skipping 5) and pause.

It seems each time I change the date, a corresponding number of frames goes by on what seems to be a different clock.

Anyone else see this?

Tom

[Johnny]

Hi Tom, yes I notice the same problem as you, with each date change the individual .jpg frames are showing at a different frequency. Maybe if this problem persists, there is a way of taking all the day's .jpg's and compiling them into an .mp4 video clip instead. Then you could delete all those .jpg's and just keep the video clips as a historical record.

John

[azchrisf]

It would be great if they could be .mp4 videos instead. I know ImageMagick has a built in to PHP plugin, maybe that can be used?
ffmpeg won't work on Windows for any wildcards - ask me how I know

[azchrisf]

I just noticed the effect happens changing dates even at 2 seconds, so something is fundamentally flawed.
I will have to hire a coder to fix it, this one is beyond my capabilities, and since Jachym doesnt seem interested, and it's obvious it's not just me.

[Dehatter]

we changed to 2 secs to make it MORE noticeable. We won't keep it at 2 secs.

Tom

[azchrisf]

I had a programmer fix the problem.
What he found was interesting - and it was improper programming, Jachym.

Some of you may ask "well whats the fix". Usually I would provide it, but I had to pay $55 for it to be fixed, so I'm not sharing unless someone wants to give me $25 to share the cost.

Now, I am going to rant here because I am getting a little peeved at what I am seeing. I'm also someone who speaks my mind. You want us to pay for "support", Jachym, but I don't see much support. I have reported bugs in several plugins that have yet to be updated or fixed, not including this one, which you seemed to ignore as "works for me" when 2 others reported the same behavior on their sites. And, while I appreciate you decided to make it, writing a new PurpleAir plugin while you have all these existing ones needing fixes is a little senseless IMHO, especially now that your time is even more limited with your new responsibilities. You have a great product here by all means but you need to fix the cracks that appear after the concrete has dried, so to say.