Recording RTMP Webcams from cam4(HowTo record XXX/adult web-cam videos from cam4.com)

[Elgero]

New version. Fixed a bug that resulted in an error when playing/deleting finished recordings.

http://dfiles.eu/files/v33l3ukyo

[xaboxa]

Thank you

[Cbater]

Thank you for the update. I have many error messages in your old version.

1. Failed to establish RTMP session

or

2. 30 second timeout


By 2-3 cams your programm don't start to record. I am big fan and this is only a status report

[Elgero]

Cbater, here is a quote from my reply on the previous page that explains why this happens. Cam4 Grabber grabs the stream that guest users get and there can be problems with that stream.

Originally Posted by Elgero

That it picks up a "dead" stream is a server problem, because Cam4 Grabber does the exact same rtmp handshake as the swf player to request the rtmp url of the video stream from the server. I do know that Cam4 uses two streams, one for logged in viewers and one for guest viewers. When it's not possible to record a webcam as a guest, then you won't be able to view the webcam, as a guest, in your browser either. Viewing/recording webcams when logged in always seems to work fine. Cam4 has this problem for years now and that's also one of the reasons why the first version of this tool required you to enter your login details. Maybe Cam4 does this on purpose, to force people to register an account.

[Cbater]

Only one or two Suggestions. Maybe not worth to read

I am using Jaksta 4 years now to record c4 with a Firefox Macro for automatic use. The macro needs 5 Minutes to check my Favs (4 Tabs every 8 Seconds). Aber 1-2 hours Firefox or Jaksta crashed sometimes. Maybe memory things. Can you write a program to check broadcasters every 1-2 minutes and Jaksta records the online cams in the background. Your fabulous grabber don't work with jaksta. Your old C4 Downloader works great with Jaksta in the background.

[Elgero]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. I can easily write a tool to check the webpages to see if certain broadcasters are online, but I'm not sure what you mean with "don't work with jaksta". The old C4 Downloader tool uses WinPcap to check your internet traffic on port 1935 to see if there are RTMP urls and when it finds a Cam4 rtmp url, it starts to download the stream with librtmp. Jaksta will probably detect that same stream, but they're basically the same tools.

[Calvin1961]

Originally Posted by Cbater

Thank you for the update. I have many error messages in your old version.

1. Failed to establish RTMP session

or

2. 30 second timeout


By 2-3 cams your programm don't start to record. I am big fan and this is only a status report

None of these problems are caused by Cam4Grabber NOR can Cam4Grabber do ANYTHING to correct them.

BOTH of these errors you reported are caused by Cam4's SHOCKINGLY POOR coding effort and the resulting DREADFUL stability of the Cam4 site. Cam4 OFTEN "orphans" streams from senders resulting in Cam4Grabber reporting the errors you mentioned. If the stream is already "orphaned" (broken) when Cam4Grabber attempts to start recording you get error 1 - Failed to establish RTMP session. If the stream dies WHILE Cam4Grabber is recording you get error 2 - 30 second timeout.

Cam4 also has a habit of FAILING to correctly process when a video sender leaves/signs off. It keeps their profile in the list of current cams OFTEN for HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of minutes AFTER they have left. I refer to these as "phantom" cams. They often have heaps of viewers as everyone see them on the list, notices the profile picture, and rushes into their room, only to be greeted with the "spinning wheel" and no video.

I have spoken about all the problems that the Cam4 site has previously in this thread - frankly the situation is getting WORSE not better !

From my observation Elgero both the "guest" and "logged in viewer" streams are equally impacted by these problems, OFTEN both streams die at the same time. Occasionally switching to a different server may temporarily fix the problem eg: call en.cam4.be or en.cam4.tw instead of www.cam4.com. URL snooper reports that the rtmp URL information and handshake are SOMETIMES then being handled by a different server (ie: different IP address) and it may manage to send you a "NOT broken" link to the sender's video stream that actually works ! It only works SOMETIMES though :-(

It is a great pity that Cam4 is the most popular site. They CERTAINLY DON'T DESERVE to be ! It really makes my blood boil that they make 100% markup on "tokens", and as a result make a BUCKET of money every day, and obviously spend NONE of it on fixing the site !

I wish they would go broke, so somebody who is actually technically competent could take their place ! The Cam4 site at the moment is about as stable as a giraffe on roller skates !

[cinaman]

Originally Posted by Elgero

...I have fixed the Cam4 Grabber tool again...

...Updates are done every 2 minutes.

Elgero,

Hey, thanks for sharing this software. I just started using it to follow someone I know personally.

I'd like to re-wrap the code as a Windows Service so it can run on a headless server. As far as I can tell, your .exe only runs in a logged-on user session.

If source is entirely out of the question, perhaps a .dll release as a .NET assembly is possible? I'm hoping your capture code isn't too terribly mixed up with GUI code and can be compiled in separate classes and/or namespace.

I hope you keep releasing updates! Thanks again.

[ppeterppan]

Originally Posted by Elgero

New version. Fixed a bug that resulted in an error when playing/deleting finished recordings.

http://dfiles.eu/files/v33l3ukyo

Can you re-upload the file? This one is no longer available.

[Calvin1961]

Hi PPeterPPAn,

Elgero has already made it clear he has VERY little to NO interest in supporting this tool. It is unlikely he will repost for you unfortunately. PM me and I'll see if I can help you.

Calvin.