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portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

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Dave Sublette-2

portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

All this talk about the AX-1 has stirred me up. My wife and I fly to Utah
once or twice a year to visit grandchildren. I have a KX3. Although I am
sure the AX-1 is a nifty and convenient antenna, I had stuff laying around
here, so I built a portable antenna that collapses into a 2 foot length/.
It will fit in my carry on.

My wife and I require wheelchairs when we travel, for valid reasons which I
don't need to discuss here. We always get the red carpet treatment. Since
we are both over 75 -- no shoes off, etc. They put us right through
security.

So --- what should I expect with a KX3 (no batteries), portable antenna,
and a small power supply as we go through? Your experience will be helpful
to know.

If it looks too hairy, I can just mail them to our son's house.

73,

Dave, K4TO
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Ian, NV4C

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

Dave,

I used to take an FT-817 and wire antenna through airport security (TSA)
when I travelled for work. Never had an issue. Put it in your carry-on, and
let TSA inspect it if they check your bags. You may actually want to leave
the battery in, in case they ask you to turn on your rig.

73 de,

Ian, NV4C

On Mon, Jun 3, 2019, 8:52 PM Dave Sublette <[hidden email]> wrote:

> All this talk about the AX-1 has stirred me up. My wife and I fly to Utah
> once or twice a year to visit grandchildren. I have a KX3. Although I am
> sure the AX-1 is a nifty and convenient antenna, I had stuff laying around
> here, so I built a portable antenna that collapses into a 2 foot length/.
> It will fit in my carry on.
>
> My wife and I require wheelchairs when we travel, for valid reasons which I
> don't need to discuss here. We always get the red carpet treatment. Since
> we are both over 75 -- no shoes off, etc. They put us right through
> security.
>
> So --- what should I expect with a KX3 (no batteries), portable antenna,
> and a small power supply as we go through? Your experience will be helpful
> to know.
>
> If it looks too hairy, I can just mail them to our son's house.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, K4TO
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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charlie carroll

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

In reply to this post by Dave Sublette-2

Dave:
For the most part I get through security without any problems. I just
did a round trip to PJ4 and no one in security seemed to blink. IMHO,
it really depends on the person running the xray machine. Last year I
had a 1500 watt amp and K3 with me, and neither was even opened. If
anything, keyer paddles, at least those with a heavy brass base, seem to
catch their attention. Wires, coax, fishing reels, big variable
capacitors, all didn't get a blink of the eye. However, last year I did
lose a drill index in a carry-on to security. Some other tools can be
an issue. Oh, last year I had a freeze bag full of adapters that caught
their eye. One year I even carried my K3 in my back pack. They wanted
to know what it was, took a look, and then put it away.

IMHO, keep any sharp objects in your checked baggage and don't lose any
sleep over it.

73 charlie, k1xx

On 6/3/2019 8:51 PM, Dave Sublette wrote:

john@kk9a.com

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

In reply to this post by Dave Sublette-2

Bringing a transceiver and power supply in your carry-on is not
against airline regulations and you will not be hassled. I am not sure
what batteries a KX3 takes, I believe that there are some battery
regulations.

John KK9A

Dave Sublette k4to wrote:

All this talk about the AX-1 has stirred me up. My wife and I fly to Utah
once or twice a year to visit grandchildren. I have a KX3. Although I am
sure the AX-1 is a nifty and convenient antenna, I had stuff laying around
here, so I built a portable antenna that collapses into a 2 foot length/.
It will fit in my carry on.

My wife and I require wheelchairs when we travel, for valid reasons which I
don't need to discuss here. We always get the red carpet treatment. Since
we are both over 75 -- no shoes off, etc. They put us right through
security.

So --- what should I expect with a KX3 (no batteries), portable antenna,
and a small power supply as we go through? Your experience will be helpful
to know.

If it looks too hairy, I can just mail them to our son's house.

73,

Dave, K4TO

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

My KX3 takes NiMH batteries and as far as I know, airlines do not care about them. The main concern would be Lithium but even my laptop has Li batteries and that is always accepted.

73, phil, K7PEH

> On Jun 3, 2019, at 7:12 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
> Bringing a transceiver and power supply in your carry-on is not against airline regulations and you will not be hassled. I am not sure what batteries a KX3 takes, I believe that there are some battery regulations.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
>
> Dave Sublette k4to wrote:
>
> All this talk about the AX-1 has stirred me up. My wife and I fly to Utah
> once or twice a year to visit grandchildren. I have a KX3. Although I am
> sure the AX-1 is a nifty and convenient antenna, I had stuff laying around
> here, so I built a portable antenna that collapses into a 2 foot length/.
> It will fit in my carry on.
>
> My wife and I require wheelchairs when we travel, for valid reasons which I
> don't need to discuss here. We always get the red carpet treatment. Since
> we are both over 75 -- no shoes off, etc. They put us right through
> security.
>
> So --- what should I expect with a KX3 (no batteries), portable antenna,
> and a small power supply as we go through? Your experience will be helpful
> to know.
>
> If it looks too hairy, I can just mail them to our son's house.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, K4TO
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

alorona

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

I am sure there are just as many horror stories as "I've never had a problem" stories. Such as the time I was carrying a small Ten-Tec shortwave receiver and was detained for almost half an hour while the agent stared and actually asked me, "Voices come out of this thing?"

Meanwhile, an alarm blared for several minutes without any response from TSA whatsoever. Someone could have gained access to the tarmac in that time and planted a bomb. But the little Ten-Tec was deemed more of a threat.
Be prepared for any response, subject to the whim of the agents.

Al W6LX

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Michael Walker

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

I have carried thousands of $$ of test equipment and HF equipment in as
carry on and chequed luggage, as recently as 4 months ago. Never an issue.

They will swipe it for Nitrates and then let you go.

Your biggest concern is the total wattage of the battery. Check the web
site for your carrier and the norm is about 50 watts total capacity.

Mike va3mw

On Mon, Jun 3, 2019 at 10:38 PM Al Lorona <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am sure there are just as many horror stories as "I've never had a
> problem" stories. Such as the time I was carrying a small Ten-Tec shortwave
> receiver and was detained for almost half an hour while the agent stared
> and actually asked me, "Voices come out of this thing?"
>
> Meanwhile, an alarm blared for several minutes without any response from
> TSA whatsoever. Someone could have gained access to the tarmac in that time
> and planted a bomb. But the little Ten-Tec was deemed more of a threat.
> Be prepared for any response, subject to the whim of the agents.
>
> Al W6LX
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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Jim Brown-10

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

On 6/3/2019 7:47 PM, Michael Walker wrote:
> I have carried thousands of $$ of test equipment and HF equipment in as
> carry on and chequed luggage, as recently as 4 months ago. Never an issue.

More than a few contesters drag radio gear several times a year to
island stations in the Caribbean. One of my neighbors, W0YK has long
carried on a pair of K3s in Rose's cases to P49, where he regularly wins
RTTY contests. He had Rose put velcro on one surface of each so that
they "clamped" together to be one piece of luggage, then pulled them
apart to stow them in the overhead.

73, Jim K9YC

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john@kk9a.com

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

In reply to this post by Dave Sublette-2

That is a nice way to carry two radios if you don't mind lugging the
weight on your shoulder though various airports or being able to carry
much else. Be careful however as most U.S. airlines have a maximum 9"
width on check-in bags. I put a singe K3S in a Rose bag inside a
Samsonite carry-on along with peripherals and even a few clothes.

John KK9A aka P40A, WP2AA, PJ4R etc

Jim Brown K9YC wrote:

More than a few contesters drag radio gear several times a year to
island stations in the Caribbean. One of my neighbors, W0YK has long
carried on a pair of K3s in Rose's cases to P49, where he regularly wins
RTTY contests. He had Rose put velcro on one surface of each so that
they "clamped" together to be one piece of luggage, then pulled them
apart to stow them in the overhead.

73, Jim K9YC

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Michael Walker

Re: portable antennas and rigs going through airport security

In other trips, I have carried a camera backpack that far exceeds those
widths, even on CRJ's in the Caribbean. There was no way I was checking a
camera back worth a lot of money and far more fragile than my Amateur
equipment.

You will have to be nice and work with the people at check in. I find
them very accommodating.

Mike va3mw

On Tue, Jun 4, 2019 at 7:12 AM <[hidden email]> wrote:

> That is a nice way to carry two radios if you don't mind lugging the
> weight on your shoulder though various airports or being able to carry
> much else. Be careful however as most U.S. airlines have a maximum 9"
> width on check-in bags. I put a singe K3S in a Rose bag inside a
> Samsonite carry-on along with peripherals and even a few clothes.
>
> John KK9A aka P40A, WP2AA, PJ4R etc
>
>
> Jim Brown K9YC wrote:
>
>
> More than a few contesters drag radio gear several times a year to
> island stations in the Caribbean. One of my neighbors, W0YK has long
> carried on a pair of K3s in Rose's cases to P49, where he regularly wins
> RTTY contests. He had Rose put velcro on one surface of each so that
> they "clamped" together to be one piece of luggage, then pulled them
> apart to stow them in the overhead.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>