[CQ-Contest] Travelling for Contests or Dxpeditions

[David Kozinn, K2DBK]

The powering up things is of concern to me even for domestic travel. I
occasionally bring my radio with me when visiting family in Florida. I
normally activate one of the islands (NA-034) for IOTA purposes when I'm
down there, and run off the car battery. I don't bring a power supply with
me, so if they were to ask me to power up the radio during screening I'd
have a pretty tough time doing so unless they've got a car battery lying
around somewhere.


73,
     David, K2DBK
     k2dbk.com
     k2dbk.blogspot.com
     twitter: @k2dbk

On Mon, Sep 22, 2014 at 8:53 AM, Roberts, Will <Will.Roberts at duke-energy.com
> wrote:

> Ed,
>
> I have found that arrival personnel don't care much about licenses, CEPT
> permits, etc. Your biggest problem travelling with radio gear is going to
> be customs. I'd advise you to seek out a local baggage handler to help with
> your bags when you get them off the plane. Having a local seems to "breeze"
> the luggage through without as many questions. It's no guarantee, but it's
> usually worth the cost of a few bucks per bag. If customs does start asking
> questions, don't lie about the value of your radio. They are now using the
> internet to look up the values. In my opinion, it's best to offer to pay a
> bond up front with the understanding you will be taking the equipment when
> you leave. They will give you lots of official looking papers with stamps
> and signatures. Often they will make notes in your passport of what you
> brought in. There are times that it has taken me days to jump through all
> of the hoops.
>
> I would advise that you run your itinerary of countries that you plan to
> visit by this group or a similar forum. Chances are, someone has been to
> that location recently and can advise you. I've also found that customs
> experiences can be very different based on time of day, your attitude, and
> random luck-of-the-draw. Just be prepared for problems, and hope you can
> avoid them.
>
> I am concerned about the new regulations that our own beloved TSA has put
> into place in the past few months. Supposedly we now have to demonstrate
> that the gear will power up to prove it is not a terrorist device. If we
> can't power it up to their satisfaction, it gets confiscated. It's happened
> to cell phones and computers. I haven't heard of any problems YET with ham
> stuff. At the very least, I will have to stop my usual practice of packing
> a transceiver and power supply in different cases.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Will AA4NC
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:31:15 -0600 (MDT)
>
> From: Ed Richardson <ed_richardson at shaw.ca<mailto:ed_richardson at shaw.ca>>
>
> To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com<mailto:CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Travelling for Contestest or Dxpeditions
>
> Message-ID: <2146888160.79024577.1411061475178.JavaMail.root at cds016
> <mailto:2146888160.79024577.1411061475178.JavaMail.root at cds016>>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
>
>
> I am just getting ready to leave on my first mini Dxpedition and started
> to wonder, and worry, how many problems will I face traveling with all
> sorts of radio equipment and electronics?
>
>
>
> For those that routinely make these treks either for contests or
> DXpeditions, are you faced with grueling questions on why you have this
> equipment and do you have to explain the whole DXpedition idea. Should I
> expect that "I am traveling for pleasure purposes and will be using amateur
> radio while here" should suffice? Of course having the necesary travel
> documenst and copies of radio licenses goes without saying?
>
>
>
> With contest and DXpedition season about to kick off, is there any other
> travel advice from the veterans out there.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Ed. VE4EAR
>
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