[CQ-Contest] Travelling for Contests or Dxpeditions

Mon Sep 22 13:48:03 EDT 2014

Hi all,

Given the newfound interest in seeing things operate, and I don't believe
they expect you to wire an antenna and make contacts from scanner table,
would a failsafe fix not be something as simple as a collection of 9 AA
batteries? (Ten, if they're the 1.2-v rechargable kind.) That is, if you're
not carrying a lightweight switching supply with the radio.

I say AA batteries since, especially if you keep them in original packaging
till needed, they are more readily recognized as innocuous by laypeople
than, say, a gel cell would be. You would only need enough power to run the
receiver and display and only for a short time.

Are they happy if they see the display light up and hear static in the
speaker?

I'd suggest finding a battery clip for the required number of cells and only
filling it with batteries when requested. Use Powerpole connectors or
similar, not alligator clips and duct tape. Again, if you're performing a
task the TSA guy does himself, such as replacing batteries in his remote
control, he's more likely to accept it as innocuous. It's kind of a fine
line, because you want the bits to be recognized as harmless, but you also
don't want it to look like some high-school science project coming together,
either.

I would definitely recommend against taping them into a cylinder with wires
hanging out...

Cracking open a fresh pack of AAs is also a good way to ensure you're not
standing their with your (figuratively) pants down and dead batteries.

I would also recommend packing with the radio the owner's manual and a copy
of QST or CQ, especially if it has an ad featuring your radio. If the guy
has never heard of ham radio, you need something to back up your story.

73, kelly
ve4xt

On 9/22/14 12:11 PM, "David Kozinn, K2DBK" <dkozinn at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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