Ham Radio Travel Kit (TSA compliant) - Ham Radio Q&A

[@douglassharafanowich8605]

Great idea about mounting the key to a piece of tile. Got to try that! :)

[@DanielGonshorek]

I'm flying out to Arizona in a month to visit family and had been deliberating about the stress of trying to bring my new QRP portable station with me. I'd pretty much decided against it, but this video provides much-needed reassurance. Thanks for posting! TU ES 73 DE N1CCC

[@TBGaels32]

I’ve flown multiple times with my 5100. You should be fine with travel. Good luck de KJ7SBN

[@WilliamParmley]

All those little "extras" at the end can be really important and show the results of lots of experience and thought going into figuring out what to take. Not all of them may be "necessary," but can really make life easier.

[@frankwc0o]

Some other dude talked about TSA and Ham Radio. Thanks for showing us.

[@jasonbelter3536]

As soon as I saw you pull out that taped styrofoam all I could think of was episodes on “to catch a smuggler “ on tv, 😂, but in all seriousness thanks and great setup and things to consider about making a travel bag.

[@buckeye5704]

Nice set up! My wife and go to S. Africa to visit our daughter every couple years and I plan to take my FT 871 and an EFHW (maybe a tuner too), on the next trip. Pwr supply and my home brew ZS6BKW and a 56' mast are waiting for me there.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

What a great kit!

[@jeffreyparker1939]

Brilliant! Love the fact that it isTSA compliant. I might steal ALL of his ideas.

[@larrybomber83]

That was a great video. gave me some ideas on what I need to include in my go kit! Thanks Michael.

[@MikeN2MAK]

This is great. I got a Xiegu G90 earlier this year and hope to bring in on a plane when I visit family and go on vacation. This was helpful and I plan to do a carry-on suitcase like this in the near future.

[@wz9o-hamradiostuff873]

Thanks for the insight you two!

[@wildbill1]

TSA are strict on the watt hour batteries when it comes to lithium batteries. And the way they are packaged ( in plastic) Looks like you got it covered though

[@wcoburn]

I'm amazed you can get that through TSA! A few years ago I ended up in an interrogation room at SeaTac for having a fountain pen in my carry-on. 😂 Now I try not to take a chance on anything.

[@davewhite7679]

I was pretty nervous the first couple of times too. My wife usually tips off the TSA screener that her "nut job" ham radio husband's bag was next in line. Then she tells me if I get stopped by TSA she would fly without me. She can't get rid of me that easy. 🤣 KZ9V

[@wz9o-hamradiostuff873]

@@davewhite7679 I'm always lucky they never question me for anything ham radio related it's always when I go through the body scanner. Sucks being a woman with broad shoulders

[@karinhart489]

No problem with a simple radio set up, but years ago the first time I went through TSA with a CPAP machine I ended up with a gaggle of agents staring at the X-ray screen… until they figured out it was a medical device.

[@andrewmunz1639]

oh i got to make one of those dummy loads, thank you, that is a lot to take in, i can only give you one T/U when i watch 20x

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Feel free to press pause and repeat. The content level is a little dense. I received a lot of questions about the dummy load, so it's going to be a winter project; stay tuned.

[@mikak1]

Thanks for posting this video. I have wanted to take my radio on trips for SOTA activations, but I have always been worried about the TSA screening, particularly the batteries. I figured I would be stopped by TSA and not allowed to fly with my gear. We are going to Hawaii in January and I plan on doing a couple POTA/WWFF activations while there. Thanks again. Mike - N6MKW

[@davewhite7679]

Which island will you be activating? I've flown with this exact bag to Kauai 3 times. I found the propogation throughout the Pacific region to be remarkable. Japan is a virtual pipeline to Hawaii. KZ9V

[@mikak1]

@@davewhite7679 We are headed to Maui this trip. I will do a SOTA/POTA and I think WWFF activation at Haleakala NP. Will probably do a couple more POTA activations while on the island. I operate QRP, so we see how that works out. Debating to bring my KX3 or MTR3b. Thanks for your response.

[@paulinmedia]

This was great. I'm headed to the UK next month and wanted to bring my G90 along with a Par trail-friendly EFHW antenna and a 6 amp battery. I'll have to go through TSA here and UK on the way back. Don't know what to expect, other than bringing my license and a positive attitude.

[@paulkish007]

ThankYou!

[@alzeNL]

Brilliant video ! Thanks for sharing your experience and bag with us. Alot of great ideas there which I'm sure will help me when working portable and should I need to fly with my radio.

[@KE8MWQ]

I'd use that pad for a butt cushion when not in use in the case

[@k8osradioscience545]

Many Thanks! I'm now putting together a go-kit based upon the Yaesu FT-818ND transceiver. This was helpful!! 73 es DX de JB/k8os

[@twovictorhamradio]

Great video. Would love to know more about that homemade dummy load. It’s so small! A video on how to make that would be great info to put out.

[@davewhite7679]

The dummy load is simply a PL259 coax connector with 4 carbon resistors soldered in parallel. I used 2 watt resistors from my junk box. 2 of the resistors are 270 ohm and the other 2 are 150 ohm. If you do the math it comes out to 48.07 ohms, but resistor values are not exact. Mine actually measures 52 ohms. It's not shielded so I'm sure it radiates some RF. The combined power rating is probably only about 6 watts, but it's good enough for low power testing in the field. Total parts cost is probably less than a dollar. KZ9V

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'll add the dummy load to my list of projects for videos this winter.

[@MrPhil-rx4cl]

Nice kit. It would have been better to find a place to avoid the traffic noise. Also wind muffs on your camera mic would be useful to kill the wind noise.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It was a breezy day and my time with Dave was quite limited. The wind noise would have been a lot worse, but the microphone's sock and low cut filter removed most of it.

[@vinniec5286]

I did not know about the TSA battery limitation. Interesting.

[@joestark9236]

I sure would like to know more about the W S R meter Please Thanks KC9WVL

[@davewhite7679]

The cross-needle power/VSWR meter is a Daiwa model CN-410M. It's just 3"x3"x4" and has a 12 volt back light. Unfortunately it's discontinued. The MFJ-822 is a similar size meter, and it is available from MFJ.

[@peades5896]

Perhaps links for the battery, SWR meter, or how to make the dummy load. Great video and always appreciate any information you both share! 73, Paul W5RDC

[@davewhite7679]

The battery is a Miady Model LFP6AH. I purchased it from Amazon. The SWR/POWER meter is a Daiwa Model CN-410M. Unfortunately it's discontinued, but the MFJ-822 is a similar size and it is available from MFJ. The dummy load is described in a previous question answer, but it's simply 4 parallel carbon resistors soldered to a PL259 coax connector. KZ9V

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The dummy load looks like a good winter project, I'll add it to the list of videos.

[@mikering5383]

The G90 has it’s own internal tuner. I would think with a pre measured dipole and internal tuner I would believe you could eliminate some things, yes?

[@davewhite7679]

No. I do not need, or pack, an antenna tuner. My "linked dipole" wire antenna is resonant on 20, 30, and 40 meters so even though the G90 has a built-in tuner I do not use it. KZ9V

[@timmanwell2538]

Love the swr/watt meter. WHAT brand/model is that??

[@edwardmcginley6640]

Looks like a Daiwa but Diamond makes one that is affordable

[@Brewerbill]

Nice video and good info. You glossed over the bit where you pulled out your bag o' wires. I'd like to see a deeper dive into the connectors, wiring and specifically, your G90 to computer interface. As you know, the devil's in the details. Seven tree.

[@davewhite7679]

Great suggestion. I've home brewed audio interconnect cable assemblies for both my G-90 and my FT-891. They are different, but similar, and I've had lots of Facebook users inquire about them. That would make another great project video. Michael - hint hint...😉 KZ9V

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The bag of cables is mostly patch cables and adapters you would normally carry in a portable activation. As for the audio interface for the G90, we can do a video specifically on that.

[@Brewerbill]

@@KB9VBRAntennas A video on the audio interface cable for the G90 would be a great, great, great idea. Additionally, a STEP by STEP tutorial about the radio/software/computer settings is sorely lacking on the internet. Maybe you could use your G90 expertise to spread the word. I just got my G90 working on WSJTX again after a day of tinkering. The reason I bring this up is to maybe help others avoid the frustration of having to jump from resource to resource to resource setting up the increasingly popular G90. Most of the current crop of tutorials employ different do-dads, what-nots and black boxes. A step by step, comprehensive lesson on setting up a "naked" G90, interface cables, ft8 software and computer sound settings would be a tremendous service to the QRP Digital community. Seven Tree.

[@davewhite7679]

Yes, computer control of the radio for data modes can be a real can of worms. I love it with my IC-7300 and the integrated sound card. But for a variety of reasons, that I won't detail here, I have reverted back to VOX control for both my FT-891 and G90. KZ9V

[@jorgegar58]

Do you need to turn on the radio for TSA inspection?

[@edwardmcginley6640]

Dave, do you have a schematic and values for the dummy load? What wattage are those resistors?

[@edwardmcginley6640]

disregard, already answered thanks

[@Texas1FlyBoy]

How is he getting through TSA without taking the laptop out? TSA PreCheck? I've never gotten through without pulling the laptop out separately.

[@davewhite7679]

I'm not sure if it really makes any difference with the radio equipment bag, but yes I do have TSA PreCheck status. KZ9V

[@fnscooter]

Was thinking the same thing. Us mere mortals must always take out our laptops. I would pack that at the top of the stack, or find a bag with a dedicated laptop compartment that is easily accessible without having to unpack everything else.

[@davewhite7679]

@@fnscooter I fully expected to have to open the bag and have it inspected at TSA, and my laptop is right on top of all the radio gear. I've now been through TSA at least a dozen times at 8 different airports and fortunately I've never had to even open the bag. KZ9V

[@nathant5741]

KSLC told me that I have to remove from my carry-on any electronic device larger then a cell phone and told me not to bring through a suitcase like it... Maybe TSA had an off day? Or still had trouble scanning?

[@davewhite7679]

I've flown with this exact bag at least a dozen times during the last 5 years and have never encountered any such TSA request. The LifePo4 battery is a recent addition to my kit, but I'm confident that it will meet the TSA watt hour size limit and short circuit protection requirements. KZ9V

[@nathant5741]

@@davewhite7679 Thank you sir, I thought it was unusual since I had just had the same suitcase through San Jose and they had me keep everything in the suitcase and didn't say anything about it. Appreciate the follow up.

[@rootcanal7188]

Michael, I have left two notes on your website and direct emailed you once, over the past two weeks, to ask questions about your J-pole antennas, and mounting them. You have not responded. Is it that you never received my notes, or are you ignoring me? Should I just shop your competitors instead?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I had a bunch of messages stuck in my hosting provider's spam filter. Hopefully I got that fixed and you should have received a response.