[Elecraft] kx1 on airlines

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> It wasn't a KX1, but I recently carried my K2 (including the 
> internal SLA battery option) in my carry-on bag, and had no 
> problems going round trip San Francisco/Orlando.

Be careful about batteries in both carry on and checked luggage. 
There have been changes in the rules concerning batteries - 
particularly what and how much can be carried/checked.  Check 
with TSA before flying, the rules have effected news crews and 
technicians who travel with battery powered test equipment. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
   


> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dave Andrus
> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 4:37 PM
> To: Elecraft List
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] kx1 on airlines
> 
> 
> It wasn't a KX1, but I recently carried my K2 (including the 
> internal  
> SLA battery option) in my carry-on bag, and had no problems going  
> round trip San Francisco/Orlando.  Best protocol is to take 
> it out of  
> your bag and put it in one of the plastic bins, just like 
> you'd do for  
> a laptop computer.  That way, you're "declaring" it, rather than  
> causing them to want to dig in to your bag just to see what in the  
> heck that little box really might be. In SFO, they did tell me that  
> they wanted to scan it twice, but didn't ask any other questions.   
> Nothing said at all in Orlando.
> 
> FWIW, there should be no problems carrying a gell-cell or SLA-type  
> battery as long as it's installed in the equipment.  Same 
> should apply  
> to the battery pack for your KX1, unless you're doing 
> something more,  
> um, custom.  I've always carried loose AA-size batteries with 
> no issues.
> 
> There ARE quite a few ham things--mostly homebrew gear--that I would  
> not try to take through airline security these days.  They are  
> extremely suspicious of any thing that doesn't look 
> "commercial build"  
> quality, ie handbuilt "don't know what this thing is" kind of stuff!
> 
> BTW, I had my little PAC-12 antenna in a checked suitcase, which got  
> inspected by Homeland Security on both legs of the trip (as 
> evidenced  
> by the little paper "calling card" they leave inside the 
> bag).  On the  
> return leg, the dim bulb inspector couldn't figure out how my "TSA  
> approved" lock on the suitcase was supposed to unlatch, so he 
> broke it  
> and the latch on my suitcase getting it open!  I thought it was  
> unusual that they'd inspect it on both legs of the trip, until it  
> dawned on me that the loading coils for the antenna are 
> basically PVC  
> pipe sections with wire wound around the outside, and metal caps on  
> each end.  Uh oh--pipe bomb!!  Guess I'll carry a dipole or doublet  
> next time!
> 
> 73,
> 
> Dave K7DAA
> http://www.k7daa.com
> 
> On Apr 22, 2008, at 12:52 PM, Darwin, Keith wrote:
> 
> > Pack it in your shoe so they don't find it.  What they don't know
> > won't
> > hurt 'em, right?
> >
> > ... :-)
> >
> > My guess is you'd be fine if it was checked.  Do people carry MP3 
> > players onboard?  If they can bring that or a walkman, 
> you'd think a 
> > similar sized ham rig would be OK.
> >
> > - Keith N1AS -
> > - K2 5411.ssb.100 -
> > - K3 711 -
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Going on a trip and was wondering what kind of hassle I 
> would get if I 
> > packed my KX1 in my baggage. Would it look like a "bomb"? 
> Was thinking 
> > of putting a copy of my amatuer ticket on the box. But I bet no one 
> > there knows what a ham radio operator is. Is it worth the trouble?
> >
> > Don...w2xb
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