+++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 13:18:31 -0800 From: lhlousek To: QRP-L list , elecraft list Subject: [Elecraft] Airport security. I've taken at least 20 round trips on commercial airlines since Sep 11 carrying aboard my K1, 14' fishing pole, antennas wires, etc.. Never once did anybody question the ham stuff, even when singled out for random searches... until last Wed. As my bag was going through the X-ray machine the attendant asked if I had electronic equipment in my bag. I said yes and she call for a hand search of the bag. A woman went through my bag thoroughly (as opposed to the extremely cursory searches on previous trips) although she carefully avoided my underwear and socks. She opened the small camera bag that contained my portable station. I said nothing just to see what would happen. She pulled out the baggie with my RG174 feedline and bead balun, antenna wires, ground wires, lead fishing weights, pushpins, and BNC adapter and studied it for about 10 seconds before calling over a supervisor and asked him what it was. He said, "Looks like wires to me". She briefly poked around in the compartment containing my K1, palm paddles, wall wart, and electrical tape and zipped it backed up. She found the fishing pole in its case and asked me what it was and if she could examine it. I said it's a fishing pole and yes, she could examine it. She slid it half way out of it's case, slid it back in, and that was that. I've taken two trips to Europe too but the schedules were so demanding that I didn't bother bringing a rig. I did ask the security attendants, both here and in Europe, about bringing ham gear and they acted as if it was a common thing and said that there would be no problem as long as I had a copy of my license. I guess terrorist radio ops don't bother to get licensed (although with current 5 WPM standard I don't see why). Anyway, I have a slightly longer trip to HB land coming up and plan to bring my K1...or maybe my SST. Lou W7DZN +++++++++++++++++ From: "Dave Johnson" To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Airport security Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 18:56:22 -0000 >I've taken at least 20 round trips on commercial airlines since Sep 11 carrying >aboard my K1, 14' fishing pole, antennas wires, etc.. Never once did anybody >question the ham stuff, even when singled out for random searches... until last >Wed. There was a re-run of the "Airline" program last week on UK television, a passenger brought along a 12 volt 7 Ah gel cell and was shown the sign saying no acids and then shown the "acid" description on the battery. After much cursing and swearing the passenger accepted that Easyjet (the Airline) wasn't going to allow the battery to travel. While the acid from a gel cell isn't going to spill, there is still a fire hazard if the terminals become shorted, yet another reason why an airline may refuse to carry a gel cell. While the original comments applied to the K1, it's perhaps worth asking the airline in writing before attempting to take a K2 with it's internal gel cell on an aircraft. 73's Dave, G4AON K2 #1892 ++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: "Dave Johnson" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Airport security Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 16:19:48 -0600 While Dave has a technically true point, if the gel cell is properly mounted, it is not likely to cause a problem. No more than the very gel cells used to power the aircraft engines! Now it is also unlikely they will ask you to open up the radio, if you are able to turn it on and show the controls do light up. Maybe prudent to cover up any reference to acid on the cell, although mine do not say anything about acid. It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission! 73, Stuart K5KVH ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 22:36:01 +0000 To: "Stuart Rohre" , "Dave Johnson" , From: Larry Cahoon Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Airport security At 04:19 PM 3/25/2002 -0600, Stuart Rohre wrote: >While Dave has a technically true point, if the gel cell is properly >mounted, it is not likely to cause a problem. No more than the very gel >cells used to power the aircraft engines! While I might not agree I copied the following from the Powersonic webpage. "No special handling precautions or shipping containers - surface or air - are required due to the leak-proof construction." See http://www.power-sonic.com/ click on FEATURES and look under EASY HANDLING 73 de Larry.........WD3P in MD http://www.qsl.net/wd3p/ +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 16:42:45 -0600 From: "George, W5YR" To: Stuart Rohre Cc: Dave Johnson , Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Airport security One trap to avoid with the live demo is the potential question, "This thing got a battery in it, huh?" "Yes." "Oh, what kind?" Better do some fast thinking about your answer just in case they decide to verify what you say by asking you to open the case. Highly unlikely, but nevertheless . . . 73/72/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 15:19:03 -0800 (PST) From: Jessie Oberreuter Cc: Elecraft mail list Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Airport security On Mon, 25 Mar 2002, George, W5YR wrote: > One trap to avoid with the live demo is the potential question, "This thing > got a battery in it, huh?" "Yes." "Oh, what kind?" Better do some fast > thinking about your answer just in case they decide to verify what you say > by asking you to open the case. When I was flying 'bout two weeks ago, the "turn it on" policy seemed to have gone out of vogue. They asked us to pull out our laptops for separate checking and, even when I offered, I was not asked to turn my K1 on. I was given the "random complete search" at both SEA and MIA and in both cases, in spite of the X-Ray folks giving the K1 a thumbs up, a manager had to check it out at the gate. The biggest problem was actually my brass TwinKey -- dunno what they thought I could do with it; it's function seemed pretty obvious. I managed to get an external corner room on the top (3rd) floor of the hotel in Miami. Approx 30' of wire hanging out the window and another 30' in a pile on the floor and I was talking :). Heard my friend, ki7el, from the other side of the continent in Vancouver, WA for our weekly sked, but he couldn't here me. Sokay; I got to work up the coast and as deep as NE. -- Jessie Oberreuter joberreu at moselle.com "He's a bit on edge, Mr. Johnston -- he hasn't slept since 1945." ++++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: "George, W5YR" Cc: "Dave Johnson" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Airport security Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 18:31:22 -0600 "Why a sealed battery of course of the same type as in the defibrillator aboard this plane!" And perfectly true! Stuart K5KVH +++++++++++++++++++