How it works

The short version: two pre-configured routers, one private tunnel between them, traffic exits the internet from your home IP — no matter where in the US you are.

1

At home: the Home unit plugs into your router

The Home unit (a fanless GL.iNet Brume 2) sits behind your existing home router. It joins your Tailscale account as an “exit node” — Tailscale's term for “a device willing to forward other devices' internet traffic through itself.” It does nothing visible to your home network beyond that.
2

On the road: the Travel unit is your portable WiFi

The Travel unit (a pocketable GL.iNet Beryl AX) is what you take with you. Plug it into any USB-C charger. Connect it upstream to the local WiFi (hotel, cafe, friend's place) or to Ethernet. Your laptop, phone, and tablet join the Travel unit's WiFi just like a normal hotspot.
3

Behind the scenes: Tailscale binds them together

When the Travel unit boots, it dials home over Tailscale's encrypted overlay network and asks: “route all my traffic through the Home unit, please.” The Home unit accepts. Now every packet from your devices goes:
your device  →  Travel unit  →  Tailscale tunnel  →  Home unit  →  your home router  →  internet
The website you visit sees your home IP. Your local hotel WiFi sees only encrypted Tailscale traffic to a Cloudflare-hosted relay (or, when conditions allow, a direct P2P connection). It can't see what you're doing.
4

Works behind CGNAT

A lot of consumer ISPs — T-Mobile Home Internet, Starlink, most cellular plans, apartment buildings — put you behind “carrier-grade NAT” (CGNAT). Competing kits built on raw WireGuard silently fail in these environments because the home device can't accept inbound connections. Tailscale's built-in DERP relays make CGNAT a non-issue. PacketMole works on these connections out of the box.
5

Your data: where it goes (and doesn't)

We sell hardware. We don't run the tunnel. We don't see your traffic, your devices, or your Tailscale account. Your Tailscale account stays yours — and stays free forever on Tailscale's Personal plan (up to 6 users, unlimited devices). Even if PacketMole the company evaporates tomorrow, your kit keeps working.