Elecraft › [HAM]

OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

Classic

List

Threaded

14 messages Options

Alan Price-3

OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

I have not done this in recent years. I want to carry several radios (KX1 and a scanner) on board a commercial domestic(Delta) flight. What security issues will I encounter?

73

Alan

W1HYV

_________________________________________________________________
The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

NQ3RP

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

Alan -

Like any electronic device, you must be prepared to turn it on and demonstrate that it works. This applies to computers, ipods, radios, etc. I travel with my 2M/440 and just turn it on and pick up a local repeater, bong it and get an answer. They usually say wow. I'm sure that if you can turn them on and receive something it will suffice.

John
NQ3RP

alsopb

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

NQ3RP wrote:

> Alan -
>
> Like any electronic device, you must be prepared to turn it on and
> demonstrate that it works. This applies to computers, ipods, radios, etc.
> I travel with my 2M/440 and just turn it on and pick up a local repeater,
> bong it and get an answer. They usually say wow. I'm sure that if you can
> turn them on and receive something it will suffice.
>
>
> John
> NQ3RP

Hmm, you mean I have to carry another 30 pounds of batteries to power
up my K3 or other xcvr? I don't see string out a HF antenna as something
they want you to do at a security checkpoint.

I think we need another. answer.

73 de Brian/K3KO
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Mark Stennett

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by Alan Price-3

I recently carried my K3 and IC-7000 aboard Southwest. I have carried my
radios aboard Delta in the past. The carrier you fly does not matter, you
deal with TSA at security. I always leave my radios in the bag and they
always pull it for additional checks which range from the wipe and sniff
to full manual inspection. I have never been asked to power them up. They
are always more interested in my Begali Sculpture CW paddle. I also always
travel with laptop computers which they want you to take out of the case
and place in a bin by themselves.

I go home again Monday with the radios. Check us out at http://www.c6ams.com

> I have not done this in recent years. I want to carry several radios
> (KX1 and a scanner) on board a commercial domestic(Delta) flight. What
> security issues will I encounter?

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

P.B. Christensen

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by NQ3RP

> "They are always more interested in my Begali Sculpture CW paddle.

Same here. The TSA workers often gravitate to my Begali Traveler and start
asking questions about Morse code, why I use it, etc. I think more than
anything, they're intrigued by a polished gold electromechanical object and
the Begali gets their attention.

I travel with one of two Pelican cases. In the two years I've taken them on
business trips, I've never had a problem with TSA.
I've got fairly comprehensive remote Internet station that fits in the
smaller case.

I'm hoping for the day that in-flight Internet Wi-Fi access is reliable
enough to allow for an "in air" QSO. I see that ValueJet and American offer
the service but I rarely use those airlines.

Paul, W9AC

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Jon Kåre Hellan

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by alsopb

Brian Alsop wrote:

> NQ3RP wrote:
>> Alan -
>>
>> Like any electronic device, you must be prepared to turn it on and
>> demonstrate that it works. This applies to computers, ipods, radios, etc.
>> I travel with my 2M/440 and just turn it on and pick up a local repeater,
>> bong it and get an answer. They usually say wow. I'm sure that if you can
>> turn them on and receive something it will suffice.
>>
>>
>> John
>> NQ3RP
>
> Hmm, you mean I have to carry another 30 pounds of batteries to power
> up my K3 or other xcvr? I don't see string out a HF antenna as something
> they want you to do at a security checkpoint.

This comes up all the time. I can't remember anybody who reported actually having
problems flying with HF radios.

>
> I think we need another. answer.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Neil Shubert

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

I recently went to Florida with a whole GO kit, inside was 2 radios, 1 power
supply and 1 antenna tuner, they looked at it, asked me what it was, and
wiped it down with swabs and it was ok,
The aluminum flakes in my pocket from the machining done earlier caused more
of a problem.

-Neil
AC2O

On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 8:38 AM, Jon K Hellan <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Brian Alsop wrote:
> > NQ3RP wrote:
> >> Alan -
> >>
> >> Like any electronic device, you must be prepared to turn it on and
> >> demonstrate that it works. This applies to computers, ipods, radios,
> etc.
> >> I travel with my 2M/440 and just turn it on and pick up a local
> repeater,
> >> bong it and get an answer. They usually say wow. I'm sure that if you
> can
> >> turn them on and receive something it will suffice.
> >>
> >>
> >> John
> >> NQ3RP
> >
> > Hmm, you mean I have to carry another 30 pounds of batteries to power
> > up my K3 or other xcvr? I don't see string out a HF antenna as something
> > they want you to do at a security checkpoint.
>
> This comes up all the time. I can't remember anybody who reported actually
> having
> problems flying with HF radios.
>
> >
> > I think we need another. answer.
> >
> > 73 de Brian/K3KO
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

KK7P

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by Alan Price-3

I just put the K3 in a a bin as if it were a laptop computer or other
large, electronic device. Rarely get a question and never had a problem
on domestic or international flights.

Well, not completely true, I did have a problem once getting on an
Aeroflot flight from JFK to Moscow (enroute to Kazakhstan), but I and
the other four guys I was with were carrying on three (3) complete
spacecraft and one container with the separated solar panel assemblies
for all three satellites. We had lots of hurdles to deal with! And TSA
wasn't the problem -- we'd called in advance to alert them :-)

73,

Lyle KK7P

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

NQ3RP

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

I never said that you would have a problem, never said I have had a problem. I've never have had one, never been wiped and swiped, just my handheld is only asked to be turned on. What I was saying is exactly what is said on:

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2004/press_release_0401.shtm

That it will be subjected to more scrutiny which could be as simple as turning it on. Or maybe as complicated as "show me the insides" or the wipe and swipe. It IS UP TO the TSA official you deal with.

Andy Faber

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by Mark Stennett

My experience is exactly the same as Mark's. I have carried my K3 on
commercial flights many times. Sometimes TSA wants it taken out of my
backpack and they either swab it for explosive residues or they run it
through separately, but they never ask questions about it, nor have they
asked me to turn it on (which I couldn't do, since I don't carry on a PS).
My Begali Simplex often confounds them also, since it appears to the
scanners to be a completely opaque block. OTOH, sometimes the identical
backpack just sails through.
So, in general, it's been no problem.
73, andy, ae6y
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Stennett" <[hidden email]>
To: "Alan Price" <[hidden email]>; "Elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 4:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

>I recently carried my K3 and IC-7000 aboard Southwest. I have carried my
> radios aboard Delta in the past. The carrier you fly does not matter, you
> deal with TSA at security. I always leave my radios in the bag and they
> always pull it for additional checks which range from the wipe and sniff
> to full manual inspection. I have never been asked to power them up. They
> are always more interested in my Begali Sculpture CW paddle. I also always
> travel with laptop computers which they want you to take out of the case
> and place in a bin by themselves.
>
> I go home again Monday with the radios. Check us out at
> http://www.c6ams.com
>
>
>> I have not done this in recent years. I want to carry several radios
>> (KX1 and a scanner) on board a commercial domestic(Delta) flight. What
>> security issues will I encounter?
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

The Smiths

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by Alan Price-3

None,

I've taken mine on both domestic and international flights as carry on and have not once experienced a problem. That includes my Greeny screwdriver, my fishing weight, string, wire for the antenna, and a mini paddle all in the same case.

Some times I would get a look, then I would just say it's a radio.. and it kept going through the X-Ray machine. In other countries I've never even gotten the dirty look... A lot of countries, like the parts of Asia I've been to they don't seem to even care what's in your bags..

> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:09:03 -0700
> Subject: [Elecraft] OT Carrying radios on commercial flight
>
>
> I have not done this in recent years. I want to carry several radios (KX1 and a scanner) on board a commercial domestic(Delta) flight. What security issues will I encounter?
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Alan
>
> W1HYV
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

_________________________________________________________________
The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

James SARTE

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by Alan Price-3

I've taken several HT's with me on both domestic and international
flights with no hassle. Was never even questioned...

73 de James K2QI

On 7/23/10 7:09 AM, Alan Price wrote:

> I have not done this in recent years. I want to carry several radios (KX1 and a scanner) on board a commercial domestic(Delta) flight. What security issues will I encounter?
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Alan
>
> W1HYV
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

k6rb

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

In reply to this post by Alan Price-3

Having just flown back and forth from California to New York, with my K3,
Buddipole, etc., I can give an up-to-date report on TSA doings. I had the
K3, PS cable, short length of RG-8X with two PL-259s, and my Kent paddle
in the two side pockets of my K3 carrying case, and the K3 with foam
inserts in the mid-section.

The bag went right through the security x-ray with no one asking me
anything about it. The suitcase, which I checked, had the Buddipole, its
tripod, a power supply, and mobile MFJ transmatch (plus clothes, tennis
racquet, and toiletries bag). It, too, went through without disturbance. I
know that because everything was exactly where I had placed it coming and
going.

This is in sharp contrast to my trip last summer where they went through
the suitcase and succeeded in breaking the knobs on an MFJ antenna
analyzer I had packed.

So, maybe they're getting more used to nomad ham ops with stations in
carry-on bags and suitcases.

Rob K6RB

>
> I have not done this in recent years. I want to carry several radios (KX1
> and a scanner) on board a commercial domestic(Delta) flight. What
> security issues will I encounter?
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Alan
>
> W1HYV
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with
> Hotmail.
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU

Re: OT Carrying radios on commercial flight

Administrator

In reply to this post by James SARTE

I quite recently flew to Europe from California, and back, with a KX1 and
an HT and Buddipole (in suitcase). I put a copy of the QRP Quarterly in
my backpack, as it has a big ad for the KX1 in it, but they didn't look.

Operating QRP in rural Europe is interesting: there was no noise, and I
could hear plenty of signals from Europe and the US East Coast, but I was
below everybody else's noise floor.

Leigh/WA5ZNU

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html