Those are not worth returning or repairing. Just replace it. If you want to try a repair, I'd suggest /r/diyelectronics or similar, but it will cost way more to fix than a quality new camera most certainly.
I like ReoLink cameras for home use.
No matter what you choose, be aware of security implications for connecting cameras on any trusted network. Always isolate them.
$1k wouldn't get me started for the electrical runs and cabinets for the hardware.
We are not talking about high voltage telephone equipment.
The switches in telcos are totally different than low voltage Ethernet with sensitive transcivers.
Grounding differential potential between structures, even just a few feet apart, is often enough to destroy Ethernet transceivers without lightning strikes or surges.
Notice: I've been in IT and telco for over 30 years. I have worked on Nokia telco switching equipment and can 100% tell you that Ethernet transceivers will absolutely be destroyed with much less effort than telco.
This is why it's important to have other security monitoring resources on your network if you intend to open ports or expose your services to the Internet. Also a good time to change all your passwords if you have not already.
Attaching to light poles you dont own or have permission to do is a crime in most places.
If you do have authority to do this somehow, I would use a power tap on the street light photovoltaic sensor. They are a twist lock style connector. They sell pass through options to keep the original sensor. That's for the power.
As for the connectivity.. If you have permission to do this, you likely have permission to install a omnidirectional WiFi ptmp station and wireless clients (directional) at each camera. Otherwise, just use LTE or fiber. Most municipalities run conduits between each lamp and there may be existing access for fiber. You could also microtrech fiber (since you presumably have permission).
I've done this for municipalities. It's pretty easy since everything is already in place- which is why I question your intentions here. Anyone who has permission to do this would probably not need to ask how to do it.
If you cannot use fiber, which is the obvious solution, I'd recommend a wireless solution.
Grounding is not going to fix this issue.
Is there a reason you cannot accomplish this with a selfhosted VPN?
Exposing anything has risk. Risk of loss of data, your systems being used for other attacks, and loss of time/money to fix. It is entirety possible to do this as safe as practical of course- keeping your stuff up to date and having some kind of visibility into intrusion detection for immediate response are ways to minimize issues.
I'd use a VPN and give your friends the credentials for access to your server(s)
I have another house, about 800 miles away.. With another fairly identical setup. VPN at 1gb between. That's for the replication. Also, have another site, with a VPN, and some rackspace there for periodic backups. My more critical stuff is put in an encrypted drive and left at another location. I like doing things myself and this works for me, but you may want to look into some bucket storage in the cloud, or just a USB drive you can carry offsite on occation.
Before this post gets blasted with "just use a VPN" Yes I already have wireguard up and running but trying to get family members setup with a vpn that are technology illiterate is a nightmare
I mean, the reasons to do this cannot be understated. A VPN literally accomplishes the security and exposure issues.
It's your network through. You can feel free to expose your ports and services to the entire internet and take the risk of zero day attacks, brute force, and credential leaks. Knowing that your family is illiterate, it sounds like they may not use best cyber security practices with your services...
So, that leaves it on you. You can either support it on the front end with a proper VPN like Wireguard, or support it on the back end with IDS, honeypots, advanced threat management, constant monitoring, mitigation, patch management, backup and restores, isolation, etc.
There are not shortcuts to proper security and exposure management. You can also pay someone, or a company to do this for you.
I do a bunch of AI stuff, but you won't get chatgpt quality from anything else. It requires a massive amount of storage, memory and processing hardware- millions of dollars in hardware alone. Not sure what you're trying to do exactly, but that model is insane to attempt reproduction in any part
The reolink cameras dont have popups and not even sure about cloud services, although I have not really looked into them. I have over 20 at my house and just record locally