failing to screen share

[vaschw]

Description

Failing to screen share.

Steps to reproduce

-Use two computers to log in to two accounts on riot.im, using the web browser interface.
-I'm using Firefox 64.0 on each computer (one 32-bit, one 64-bit)
-Get both accounts into same chat room
-Neither computer has a microphone or a camera, so plug in a microphone to each computer.
-On one computer, shift-click the "video" button to start a call and initiate a screen share.
-Firefox requests permission to share the screen. Allow sharing of the "Entire screen".
-Firefox now requests access to the microphone. Allow it.
-This initiates a call, with an attempted screen share.
-Accept the call on the other computer.

Resulting popup on the computer receiving the call (happens instantly):
"Call Failed. Couldn't start capturing media! Is your microphone set up and does this app have permission?"

On the calling computer:
It continues to ring for some time, not seeing an answer, and eventually times out.
"Call Timeout: The remote side failed to pick up."

Yes, both microphones are plugged in. The microphones should also have permission, because I can attempt to initiate the call in the other direction and this causes me to be asked for permission to use the microphone on the other previously-receiving / now-sending computer. Both computers have the same popup, even after repeated attempts at calling in both directions.

Version information

• Platform: web (in-browser)

For the web app:

• Browser: Firefox 64.0 (64-bit) and 64.0.2 (32-bit) on the two computers
• OS: Windows 7 (both computers)
• URL: riot.im/app

[jryans]

Do calls work successfully when screen sharing is not used?

[t3chguy]

Is this not simply related to the fact that to pick up a Video (screenshare) call you need a Video source (webcam)?

[vaschw]

@ryan I am able to initiate a voice call without receiving errors. (Voice calls do not work perfectly, but that is not my primary concern at this point. I can hear myself from one set of computer speakers, but not the other. I tested both speakers, and both microphones, and they both work for other programs. The one microphone level may be too low, or it may be a problem with Riot. This is yet TBD.) <[email protected]>@michael I do not want to have a video call. I want to share my screen for a presentation, i.e. show the other user what is displayed in a slideshow on my screen. Initiating a screenshare is done by shift-clicking on the camera symbol (as opposed to just clicking, which gives a video chat). If the error results from me not having a webcam, then 1) this is not what the error message says, and 2) it seems like this error should not occur, because a webcam is not necessary for a screenshare. Thank you both for your quick responses. Any further suggestions?

…

-Andrew

On Tue, Feb 26, 2019 at 11:01 AM Michael Telatynski < ***@***.***> wrote: Is this not simply related to the fact that to pick up a Video (screenshare) call you need a Video source (webcam)? — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#8926 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AtvYLIiFz5ZnqlUBcr4VPDMY7TCNDKjfks5vRVpfgaJpZM4bPFu2> .

[t3chguy]

@vaschw

"Call Failed. Couldn't start capturing media! Is your microphone set up and does this app have permission?"

The error is a bit useless but this error is probably saying that you're trying to answer a video call (screen sharing is video) but have don't have the matching device, e.g webcam, its a bit annoying that Riot doesn't support answering a Video call with voice-only but that's #466

[vaschw]

@michael / t3chguy, It's disappointing that screen sharing seems to be impossible without a webcam; I cannot think of a logical reason why a webcam would be necessary to screen share. Thank you for the clarification. I hope this requirement will be eliminated in a subsequent revision of riot.im / matrix.org. Thanks again for your help, -Andrew

…

On Wed, Feb 27, 2019 at 10:40 AM Michael Telatynski < ***@***.***> wrote: @vaschw <https://github.com/vaschw> "Call Failed. Couldn't start capturing media! Is your microphone set up and does this app have permission?" The error is a bit useless but this error is probably saying that you're trying to answer a video call (screen sharing is video) but have don't have the matching device, e.g webcam, its a bit annoying that Riot doesn't support answering a Video call with voice-only but that's #466 <#466> — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#8926 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AtvYLDn81ac8XrKzOerM8GizH89dC605ks5vRqbWgaJpZM4bPFu2> .

[t3chguy]

@vaschw Yes. That's issue #466 as linked in my previous comment.

[jryans]

It looks like this is a duplicate of #466. Please let me know if I have misunderstood.