multi-webcam streaming

[divxdude]

I have been collecting hardware and purchasing some of the CHEEPO
WEBCAMS from EBAY chinese vendors planning to set up several
securitiy
cameras around my home.

i started looking for a multi cam programs and ALL of the ones i have
tried ARE UNABLE to use IDENTICAL WEBCAMS..
actually that statement may not be entirely correct but is true of
some identical cams anyway.

I asked an open source program author who has informed me "this is a
defect in the camera driver or directshow"

however i do not put much stock in this persons opinion and i am not
here to discuss him or his code.

I simply want to establish a demonstration in the form of very simple
script etc. that can STREAM preview etc these cams simultaniousley.

I am no a programmer.. i once wrote a large script , several hundred
lines that compiled and had basic functionality.
I did sort of learn some generic programming basics several nested
loops conditionals string juggling and manipulation all of which i
crudely assembled and was rather unconventional.

I do think i learned enough in that experience to say that i see good
reason to think that ALL of these webcam apps suffer from the same
somewhat incorrect methods and logic (or lack of)

the afore mentioned author claims that addressing the hardware
thru .."directshow" i think, was being confused with identical
hardware "names"'
a short GOOGLE tells me that that same hardware can also be addressed
by "DEVICE_INSTANCE ID" ?

when all these single simple apps were written this identical cam
obsticle was not on radar and i think all these authors possibly just
used hardware "names" to address the video devices.

therefore even using seperate apps to test two cams does not seem
reliable basis to make this judgement of defect and "impossibility"

could someone write me a SIMPLE script that streams these cams
simultaneously? the SIMPLEST is fine with me.. USING DEVICE INSTANCE
method of addressing the devices.

i am picturing manual input of device instance strings taken from Win
device manger propertys IF DIRECTSHOW (ETC) cannot address like-named
devices to query the device instance value due to some device name
confusion defect that may or may not exist.
as you can see i am seeking alternative sources for the propertys
value and have other similar ideas if needed.

please SHOW ME if the cams CAN or CANNOT stream simultaneously.

thank you for any help you can provide to this end.

PS.
i have considered also that high speed collection of single frames in
alternating fashion can be used for STREAM CONSTRUCTION and has
potential to be nearly equal in value and performance, should the
simpler method prove to ACTUALLY BE NOT POSSIBLE.

( i am open to alternative programming platforms and forums
suggestions to cross post my request also.)