mikell68
Member
Anyone ever travel with their SDS100 on an airline? I flew once with my Radio Shack Pro-2006 many years ago (before 9/11) and I remember having to plug it in for the TSA to see.
SDS100/SDS200: Traveling on an airline with an SDS100 in your carry-on
- Thread starter mikell68
- Start date
Ask the Airline for there policies on this issue, you don't need problems at this time when traveling, with all the different policies on different airlines
Steve
Hit_Factor
Member
It's just a radio. It's not anything scary. Plug it in? To what? Maybe they just asked you to turn it on. That was standard practice for all electronics. No idea what standard is these days. TSA and Airline answers are the only ones you should trust.
mikell68
Member
I was just curious if anyone had any experiences to share about going through security with their scanner. Like, did they make them put it in a checked bag. Did they say anything about the lithium battery. It's been about 14 years since I last flew on a plane. Yes, back in 1993, they asked me to plug my PRO-2006 in to an AC outlet and turn it on.
I can't specifically speak for a scanner, but I've flown with multiple APX radios in my carry on and never had an issue. My only issue lately was my computer port replicator as it was a big piece of metal they couldn't see through.
For several years I flew regularly, at least monthly, on Alaska/Horizon Airlines and always had a scanner in my carry on luggage. I always removed the antenna primarily to protect the antenna connection. I was never questioned. I haven't flown much in recent years. The days of having to power up electronics at TSA are long since past. They don't have the time and staff to fiddle with that kind of thing.
Off-topic sort of…
On numerous occasions the body scanners have indicated a large mass on my upper left thigh and I have to be patted down. I guess I should be proud of this, but trust me I have no large mass there. If it only happened once I wouldn’t think much of it, but it’s happened several times. I keep forgetting to ask my doctor about it. Maybe I should be worried.
On numerous occasions the body scanners have indicated a large mass on my upper left thigh and I have to be patted down. I guess I should be proud of this, but trust me I have no large mass there. If it only happened once I wouldn’t think much of it, but it’s happened several times. I keep forgetting to ask my doctor about it. Maybe I should be worried.
TSA didn't exist before 9/11.
Travelled for years with a backpack with 2 outer pockets, as a carry on. Usually have the BDC436 in one pocket and an HT1250 or XPR7550 in the other. No problems. Sometimes, at smaller airports, they might have me turn them on, but that's fairly rare.
fasteddy64
Member
I flew 2 weeks ago with an SDS-100, a 325P2 and an Icom R-30 in my bag. No problems.
Usually no problems. Several months ago traveling with an SDS 100 and a PSR 500, I was asked by TSA to step to the side with my carry on. It was not the radios. It was the antennas which they thought looked like some kind of weapon? It was never clearly explained. But they were fine once they looked it all over.
No problems for me. Regularly travel with the APX or pocket scanner in my backpack. . . Lock the radio onto the local NOAA Weather Radio frequency at your departing airport, if you're requested, or they turn on your radio its easy for them to figure things out. . . Just the facts, its a radio
ind224
Member
If the airline has no or an agreeable policy listed online you should be fine. TSA lets wanted persons board international flights because they don't know or don't care.
These threads come up all the time. The answers above pretty much cover it. The TSA pretty much doesn't care. The FAA does care. Don't operate your radio while the plane is in the air. You won't hear much anyway. The aircraft is a giant Faraday cage.
One last suggestion: Get a Known Traveler Number or a Global Entry Card. You can skip most of the TSA checks. (Leave your shoes on etc.). When returning from overseas you can mostly skip customs with the GE card. Yes, there is a fee, but some credit cards will rebate the cost. Even at LAX I get through the checkpoints in no time. I cleared the TSA line in under 60 seconds at Anchorage once. No one pays attention to my radios (not scanners - amateur HT's).
One last suggestion: Get a Known Traveler Number or a Global Entry Card. You can skip most of the TSA checks. (Leave your shoes on etc.). When returning from overseas you can mostly skip customs with the GE card. Yes, there is a fee, but some credit cards will rebate the cost. Even at LAX I get through the checkpoints in no time. I cleared the TSA line in under 60 seconds at Anchorage once. No one pays attention to my radios (not scanners - amateur HT's).
Been all over the world with my gear including to the Middle East, only time I’ve had an issue was in Madrid when security was curious and wanted to know if I was an undercover policeman! 🤣
Traveling through DFW with the antenna disconnected in my carry on - was pulled aside and 2 armed Police officers arrived to escort me to another area for a physical bag check. The antenna when disconnected apparently fit the diameter of a gun barrel ... after a quick look they laughed and sent me on my way.
6079smithw
Member
It varies from place to place. I was asked to show my ham license in Guam and Bermuda, Saipan asked if any of my gear
could transmit on aircraft frequencies but otherwise no problems. As has been posted here fifty-leven times, make sure to
have a few copies of your license(s) packed with your gear. And of course, it's never a good idea to turn on any of it while
aboard the plane. (Hey, there may be a Padawan or two browsing the forums, ya never know...)
could transmit on aircraft frequencies but otherwise no problems. As has been posted here fifty-leven times, make sure to
have a few copies of your license(s) packed with your gear. And of course, it's never a good idea to turn on any of it while
aboard the plane. (Hey, there may be a Padawan or two browsing the forums, ya never know...
)
mikell68
Member
You are correct. But they still had airport security then and they still asked about my scanner. After 21 years the TSA is almost synonymous with airport security. Just like there was facial tissue before there was Kleenex.
mikell68
Member
I appreciate the information. Unfortunately, unless I win the lottery, I probably won't be traveling enough to justify the cost of the service or the credit cards that give the rebate. lol
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