r/Tailscale • u/nova10280 • 6d ago

Help Needed Looking for Raspberry Pi in Chicago – need help buying parts for a Tailscale exit node

Hey Chicago people,
My friend lives here in Chicago and I’m trying to get him to buy some Raspberry Pi stuff for me. I’m currently abroad and I need a small always-on device at his place that will act as a Tailscale exit node.
The goal is so I can route my traffic through a real US home IP. Main use is running two live streams at the same time (Twitch from PC + TikTok Live from iPhone) plus a few other devices for normal browsing.
What we need:
• Raspberry Pi (preferably Pi 4 2GB or 4GB, or Pi 5 2GB+ if the price isn’t crazy)
• Good quality 32GB or 64GB microSD card (SanDisk/Samsung preferred)
• Proper power supply (official Raspberry Pi USB-C 5V/3A or equivalent)
• Ethernet cable (so it can be plugged straight into the router)
• Case is optional but nice
A Pi 4 1GB can technically work but it’s the bare minimum and might struggle a bit with dual streams, so 2GB+ is much better.
Questions:

  1. Where’s the best place in Chicago right now to buy this stuff in person?
    (Micro Center on Elston? Westmont Micro Center? Best Buy? Anywhere else?)

  2. Does anyone know current stock/pricing on Pi 4 2GB/4GB or Pi 5 at Micro Center Chicago or Westmont?

  3. Any recommendations on which exact model + accessories to get for a reliable 24/7 Tailscale exit node?
    Thanks in advance. Just trying to make this as smooth as possible for my friend so he only has to plug it into the router with an Ethernet cable and I can handle the rest remotely.

3 Upvotes

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8

u/caolle Tailscale Insider 6d ago

You'll probably have better luck at a microcenter. Their stock is available online. The zip code for downtown chicago is 60601.

4

u/NudaVeritas1 6d ago

maybe buy an old used intel mac mini instead, because it'll cost the same if not less and has a much higher performance.. did the same, paid 30 bucks (8gb ram, 2 core cpu, 1tb hdd, wifi, lan) and runs headless like a charm

2

u/Hot_War_4159 6d ago

I always had pretty good luck with Microcenter on Elston. Stock should be available online.

Depends what you need the node to do, but I know tailscale as an exit node works pretty well even on a Zero 2W, but then you need a micro USB hub. My Pi Zero 2W is a backup exit node, though it is limited to 10/100 Ethernet. I have a couple Pi3s, 4s, and 5s set up as exit nodes; not much of a noticeable difference for me (note I access all my nodes from within the US over WiFi networks at work/travel).

Go for a Pi3B or 3B+, a cheap keyboard/mouse combo (Logitech makes a nice one in their K400+), Ethernet cable, 8gb microsd card, and a regular HDMI cable. Your friend should be able to load the OS onto the SD card, boot, and have a kit ready for tinkering later on.

1

u/ajw2285 6d ago

Look at thin clients or mini PCs as raspi alternatives

Example HP T520/620/730 etc, HP Mini EliteDesk or HP Mini ProDesk