Security Cameras

I was going to sugest something similar but here is my take on these cameras.

First off, you are going to have to run either AC to each camera and use their power bring (this is a security compromise) or get a transformer and run their native DC to the cameras. Because you have to run this wire, you might as well run ethernet making wireless pointless. This also prevents someone from pulling your authentication scheme from the wireless network (making it more secure).

You can just use your PC (or pick one up off craigslist/ebay) for VERY cheep. I just picked up a new server for $150 with 120gb of raid 5 scsi drives, quad p3 xeon, and 2.5bg of ram(from craigslist) - over kill for this application but you can see the deals to be had. You could just pick up a dummy front end and record to your NAS.

You can pick up wired camera for well under $100 from some BM and online retailers (you probably don't have Frys there do you?)

Hope this helps to get you started on this project.

In addition, you could look into getting a wired camera that has PoE (Power over Ethernet) build in so you do not need to run power. That would require a PoE compatable switch.

What I meant by "dummy front end" was a computer that is the bar minimum to run the system and that is all it would do. You then could mount your NAS to it and record to your NAS. All it would do is take your video feeds, translate them, and save them to your NAS.

Would it be better to buy one of those dedicated security cameras for this purpose or simple webcams would work? After all if the webcams were connected to software that continously recorded footage.....wouldnt that suffice?

I know that the professional security cams have added features like being able to see in low light, and can be controlled to look at different directions.