Flying to Mexico - scanner okay?

[ChuckinSC]

I'm flying to Cancun in a few days and want to take my hand-held scanner along to monitor ATC at the ATL airport. Does anyone know if Mexico has a restriction on scanners - in other words, will they confiscate it at Mexican customs? Thanks.

 

[muscanga]

They will not confiscate your scanner but I recommend not to use it in front of security personel, I recommend you to take it with you on the plane (just take it, don't use it - remember that the crew of the plane can confiscate it if ther consider it harmful for the flight safety), so you can have it as your carry-on luggage.
Try to keep it safe and keep the volume down so it doesn't call the attention of people around you.
Enjoy your trip to Cancun and hope to hear soon from you with frequencies of this beautiful city.

 

[ChuckinSC]

I wasn't planning on using it aboard the aircraft. The interference on board is just too much (AC/RF/APU's, etc.). My thought was to use it during the KATL layover and probably not at all in Mexico - just to be safe. It'll be in my carry-on, an old Pro-43.

 

[masonb]

I went from Canada, America to Mexico with multiple stops & large and small airports.
I took my 246T on every plane with me (not always powered on); but when we were at altitude had headphones on with it in a iPod style case & no one said anything. Just going through the airport I put it with my carry on in a bag with the antenna disconnected & no one said anything. Don't know how good those x-ray machines were for it, but it still worked & made for good listening. Customs would stop the belt, look at it then continue forwards. Not even a question asked, just keep it on the low down not making it obvious you have it.


Its surprising putting it on Public Safety Search while you are in the air.
You can get ALOT lol. I remember having it on scanning V&UHF P.S. & getting stuff from all around, very crazy. Oh, it was the stock antenna as well, sitting next to the window.
& as for IN Mexico, hope you Spanish is good, they chatter Real quick !

 

[Luis_C]

What muscanga tells you is true, I haven't used the scanner on an airplane, because I haven't had the scanner with me while traveling, but I have on my local airport, I just have it on my bag using it with headphones, as if I was hearing music.

The problem here is that some people are ignorant, and you might scare the crap out of people if you are hearing ATC or having a radio with you could look suspicious for other people. Just keep it for you and don't draw attention to yourself, by the way, you are not doing anything illegal or wrong in some way, don't get nervous with your scanner.

I made a research long ago about radio scanners, and the only thing I can tell you in Mexico, is that you shouldn't publish what you hear, for example suppose a journalist is hearing police/fire, and what he hears there publishes it on the newspaper, that you aren't supposed to do, but it happens anyway.

 

[SCPD]

for example suppose a journalist is hearing police/fire, and what he hears there publishes it on the newspaper, that you aren't supposed to do, but it happens anyway.

Or you'll get killed by the cartels.

 

[dagwag77]

I'm going down to Cancun too and was warned (on this forum) against using FRS radios (or my ht1250s/750s) on GMRS or FRS freqs to stay in touch with the other people I'm traveling with.... I'm going to bring my PD radio with me though, just stow it in Mexico so I dont attract any unwanted attention. I was thinking about bringing my scanner, but no habla espanol! But, more on topic, I've flown with my XTS2500 and HT1250s and noone's said anything at Boston Logan, NY's JFK or LGA or in Florida, so....I doubt a scanner will get any attention.

 

[rvictor]

I know the OP said he doesn't intend to use his scanner on the plane, but to the extent that some of the postings in this thread mention monitoring while in flight, you should be aware of this thread.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/general-scanning-forum/133205-scanner-commercial-airliner.html

Each person can and will do what they choose, but I, for one, can't see taking the risk of getting into all kinds of problems to listen to my scanner in the air, especially in these days of heightened security. YMMV.

Dick

 

[guitarbrian30]

airports

Layovers and scanners seem to go with each other very well I think.

I used my laptop for checking out the inbounds/outbounds at KDEN using FlightAware - Free Flight Tracker - IFR Flight Status, Tracking, History, Maps fun to see them departing and taking off. Sure is better then watching those ground guys work.

One note, do not place scanner and laptop in the same padded case. X-ray techs. tend to get all worked up. Also disconnect antennas too. Other then that a breeze through all the check points. This just happened to me two weekends ago.

Happy scanning while traveling!!

 

[ampulman]

I wasn't planning on using it aboard the aircraft. The interference on board is just too much (AC/RF/APU's, etc.). My thought was to use it during the KATL layover and probably not at all in Mexico - just to be safe. It'll be in my carry-on, an old Pro-43.

Have you given any thought as to how you will secure it once you get there? Left in the room?

You know, while you're sipping a marguerita at the pool. You do plan to go into the water.

Amp

 

[DaveNF2G]

Using any kind of radio in public in certain parts of Mexico might cause a very unpleasant encounter at least. The paramilitaries, the military, the (corrupt) police, and the cartel soldiers all have radios. Do you want to be mistaken for any of those in a kill zone?

 

[SCPD]

I'm thinking that the way things are in Mexico now, a tourist would be well advised to not attract attention to themselves whatsoever, including leaving the scanner at home and forgetting about it while on vacation.

 

[Lt51506]

With all thats happening south of the border, anyone planning to go to Mexico would be well advised to have their funeral plans paid off. Simple tourists, minding their own business are ending up dead. Trying to be inconspicious won't work, everyone's a target. There's plenty to do here in the states, stay home.

 

[SCANdal]

Imagine explaining to the boss where exactly you lost your portable...

I'm going to bring my PD radio with me though, just stow it in Mexico so I dont attract any unwanted attention.

77,

Does your agency allow you to use your department radio while off-duty (I presume you'll be off duty while in Cancun)?

Are your department's frequencies licensed for use while out of the United States (or even outside of your county, for that matter)?

What would be the point of bringing your department radio all the way to Mexico just to "stow it?"

Inquiring minds what to know....

SCANdal

 

[N_Jay]

. . .One note, do not place scanner and laptop in the same padded case. X-ray techs. tend to get all worked up. . . .

Didn't the sign tell you to take your laptop out of the case?

 

[N_Jay]

With all thats happening south of the border, anyone planning to go to Mexico would be well advised to have their funeral plans paid off. Simple tourists, minding their own business are ending up dead. Trying to be inconspicious won't work, everyone's a target. There's plenty to do here in the states, stay home.

I would not worry too much about being killed as long as you are not being stupid.

On the other side of the coin, I wonder how many people vacationing in Mexico have b!tched and whined about the outsourcing of jobs?
Seems they are outsourcing all their vacation support "jobs" for no good reason.

Not that I care, I like international trade, but was just wondering . . . .

Ooops sorry off topic. (but only slightly more than a few other posts in this thread.)

 

[dagwag77]

SCANdal,

Yes, we can bring home our dept radios and use them off-duty, etc as long as they come back in the same condition as they were issued. I do the radios for my department, so I programmed FRS chans into my xts2500 and a few ht1250s which I figured we could use to communicate in cancun (hotel zone). I researched FRS/GMRS use, and it looks like FRS is ok to use, although I'm not sure if the radios have the mexican version of the FCC approval stamp on them....but we won't be using them too far out of the touristy area if we even make it out of the resort. I dont own "talkabouts" nor do I really feel like buying any since I have these nice good radios... ) The one thing I'm worried about is not security on this side, but on the return....

Hey, and if you dont see any posts from me for about a week after tomorrow am, call the state department?

Dave

 

[N_Jay]

. . I programmed FRS chans into my xts2500 and a few ht1250s which I figured we could use to communicate in cancun (hotel zone). . . . . .

Where did you find and XTS2500 and HT1250 that are type accepted for FRS?

 

[dagwag77]

well, since I dont have to play dumb (I actually am quite stoopid...) if its in the bandrange of the radio....what the hey!

 

[N_Jay]

well, since I dont have to play dumb (I actually am quite stoopid...) if its in the bandrange of the radio....what the hey!

I tried running a red light, and since my car does it just fine it must be OK.

After all the car is legal.:roll::roll::roll:

Glad I never took an oath to "uphold the law".

But, once again we are drifting off-topic.