[Kenwood] H/T Security

Sun, 20 Jul 2003 15:19:06 -0400

Larry... I would NOT recommend putting your HT or cameras in your luggage.
They have the right to open & inspect your luggage.  If they decide to
inspect your luggage, and it is locked, they will cut the lock or destroy a
built in combination lock.... DON'T lock your baggage.  If it is locked,
that draws attention to the baggage.  You will know if they open & inspect
(not withstanding the rumpled manner it is repacked) as there will be a
sheet of paper or card in your luggage explaining it was opened and
inspected plus a tag will be attached to the exterior of the baggage.

I travel extensively for business purposes and my luggage has been opened &
inspected.  They are NOT very neat in repacking!  They do take every thing
out!  I have lost a few minor items and of course, they deny that the
"inspectors" do not steal or keep anything!  It then becomes your word
against theirs and guess who is going to lose???

I take my VX-5 with me and carry it in my notebook computer case and put my
cell phone in there also.  I have been asked to turn the notebook pc on, and
sometimes I have not.  I have been asked to demonstrate the cell phone is
real & works and then I have not.  I have been asked what is that (referring
to my VX-5) and I explain exactly what it is (also have NOT been asked what
it is as long as it is with the other "electronics" (notebook, cell phone,
pager, etc.):  A small miniature, portable amateur radio - ham radio -
transceiver that I use in my hobby of ham radio..  I say no more unless they
ask more.  DO NOT use the word emergency!!!  If they want you to demonstrate
it works, before going through security, scan in the airport to find a
repeater that you can hit and program it in and if they want to hear it
work, then hold it up so that you can get a good link, and demonstrate
accordingly.   Many, many major airports have repeaters on or near them as
in Atlanta for example... there are a lot of clubs and social groups made up
of ham employees in and about the airport, the carriers and maintenance
contractors.

I can assure you, the more you say, about something they do not know about
or understand will increase or heighten their level of suspicion.  In other
words, act normal, only answer their questions in direct simple language, DO
NOT add anything more than a straight simple response to their question.  Do
not try to impress 'em.  Remember, the level of the person you are dealing
with... even though the feds are now operating security at most airports,
they hired most of their employees from the previous, minimum wage 'rent -
a - security inspector' contractors.  This IS NOT to be assumed that I am
looking down on the individuals they hire... it is a simple fact of life...
you get what you pay for!

I also travel internationally and believe me, the security is many, many,
many times greater than that in the US and is much more difficult to get
through.  They have either military or para-military walking around with
automatic weapons and will shoot at first suspicions and worry about if they
made a mistake later.  They do not use a farce of inspections as here in the
US... the standards as established by the feds here is the US is grossly
misapplied and you will notice major differences and levels of inspections
from airport to airport around the USA.  So, do not take as gospel any set
way to get through security as it may work in one airport and not in
another.  Hopefully the feds will start getting some semblances of
uniformity throughout the USA.  Then again, maybe that is not so bad so it
will be more difficult for the potential nut case to get through.

Good luck...

Best 73,

Paul - K4BET

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "W7SAC" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 2:47 PM
Subject: [Kenwood] H/T Security

Hey thanks for all the inputs, think I'll put in my baggage well
protected and a copy of my license with it. Will see how that goes,
don't feel like I want any hassle at the airports. Again thanks for all
the inputs. 73 Mac

- - -

Your moderator for this list is:
Larry Wilson KE1HZ [email protected]

_______________________________________________
Kenwood mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/kenwood