Border crossing travel as a ham

[tweiss3]

Recently the wife keeps mentioning Niagra Falls, which likely means we will have to deal with that boarder crossing in the future. We would be traveling in her car, which has a commercial radio(s) for ham and GMRS, as well as a permanently mounted SDS200. We currently don't have any local restrictions to worry about with the scanner, or her lack of ham license for exemption that some other states have. Being I am licensed, car is registered in my name, and I will always be in the car, I'm not necessarily worried about running into an issue stateside (with the exception of NY's oddly worded laws).

I have read up and understand ham usage in Canada as a FCC licensed general. I'm about to pull the headliner 1 final time in her car because some things I am unhappy with, and am trying to figure out if I need to pre-emptively run additional head extension/speaker cables. I know we always say it's the last time, but I'd like to atleast attempt to not make sweeping changes the week before any trip. I'd also appreciate it if I didn't have to go completely radioless for a trip of this nature, as dealing with Canada will only be a fraction of the trip.

1) Is the boarder crossing going to give me a hard time about the scanner? Its it even legal to use in a car in Canada?

2) Is it legal to take a commercial radio across the boarder? They do have IC certifications, though would not be used for GMRS or commercial purposes. My alternative is to pre-run the cables for an amateur only radio and pull/swap RF decks. (This may be a better question for the Industry Discussion, but I didn't want to make multiple threads so related)

3) Is there anything else I should know about crossing into Canada? It's been over 20 years since I have gone. Passports are not an issue, and would be carried.

 

[mmckenna]

I never had any issues at all.

I had a Motorola CDM VHF mobile and a Kenwood 800MHz radio mounted on the dash. Visible antennas on the roof.
No questions, no concerns, either direction. They were more concerned with seeing passports and asking about my dog.

I -did- print out a copy of all my FCC licenses and had them in the glove box, just as proof.

The reciprocal thing with ham licenses was easy enough. I think I just tagged a "VE6" on the end of my US call sign, but again, no issues at all.

 

[nd5y]

2) Is it legal to take a commercial radio across the boarder?

Give Canada a dose of their own medicine.
They come down here to Texas and illegally use LADD and Alberta-Wide channels.

 

[ecps92]

Give Canada a dose of their own medicine.
They come down here to Texas and illegally use LADD and Alberta-Wide channels.

Yup, even here in New England we can add the 162-174 Federal Bands where we find the Utility Crews from PQ/ON etc while on mutual aid for storms

Back to the OP's question - carry copies of your licenses.
I've only been questioned once by USBP coming back, but that was a slow / less traveled crossing location and he even
apologized as he said he needed to do a full sweep (knock your self out)

 

[mrweather]

CBSA couldn't care less if you're a ham. They're more concerned about your citizenship and what taxable (alcohol and tobacco) or restricted things (handgun for example) you have with you. Just carry a copy of your FCC license and you'll be fine.

I've crossed from Canada into the US in my car which has a couple of antennas and radio gear, and (so far) haven't been asked by CBP to show my license.

 

[k6cpo]

I've crossed into Canada by bus several times. They always ask us to take our luggage off the bus and into customs with us but they've never once looked at it. They haven't even checked our hand carried items. I've had radios with me on several of those occasions but it's never been an issue.

 

[AK_SAR]

I’ve been driving through Canada to/from Alaska every Spring/Fall for the last several years. I have a CS800D (Part 90 certified but only used on amateur frequencies) and antenna permanently installed in my rig, but have never been asked about it. I do carry a copy of my ham license but have never needed to show it.

Canadian Border Services will definitely ask you about guns, alcohol, cannabis & CBD, etc.

 

[jazzboypro]

Don't know if it's important for you but last i checked GMRS repeaters are not legal in Canada. The antenna must be fixed on the radio and you should not be able to remove the antenna from the radio and/or modify the antenna. The radio needs an IC number to be legal for use in Canada. GMRS is quite different in USA and Canada.

 

[ka3aaa]

i wouldn't even mention it, but i would turn it off at the check point, but if they ask about it then tell them what it is and be ready to show them your license.