So do you want to fly and take your Ham Radio Gear with you? This is how I pack my gear for flying.

In this video I discuss what I have encountered when flying with Ham Radio Eguipment. This is just what I have seen you might have a different experience. A couple things I forgot on the video 1. make sure to take a copy of your Ham Radio License I take 2 one in my camera bag and one in my wallet. #2 Check the TSA lithium battery requirements on size and where to carry on the plane ( store on a carry on ) ! Let me know in the comments.
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[@TheSmokinApe]

They always pull me out of line, I think it’s because I am cute 👍

[@503Nick]

😂😂😂

[@n5pa]

I have taken a radio, power supply, and tuner overseas with me several times and I had to go to the FAA and have it approved and filled out a lot of paperwork on each piece of equipment. I was checked in Germany, and South Africa, but never in Malawi. They were more interested that I came out with what I went in the country, though. They wanted to make sure I was not selling the equipment and not paying taxes on it.

[@W7LDT]

I have traveled with ham gear between Phoenix and Maui, Kona, Honolulu, and Kauai. It was easy to do. Maybe because I was the captain. I did get stopped the first time I brought my SotaBeams linked dipole set. They were not happy about the sharp, aluminum spikes/ stakes. They took them away from me in Maui on my way home. No problem going out. So, I did some research and found in a list of TSA approved items that knitting needles are ok. So I put a pair of 14” knitting in my pack and went back to Maui. No problem ever again. The knitting needles worked great in the sand.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

That's a great story , thanks for sharing , i will need to get some knitting needles LOL

[@HamStands]

Indeed, "your mileage will vary" with whatever TSA policy-of-the-day they chose at any given airport...I fly with my FT-65 all the time and have had no issues with security. I do keep it in a small Plano waterproof case (Guide Series 3500) with the speaker mic nicely coiled up inside and all. Keeps it very secure, looks professional, and adds some impact resistance. Good video! 73!

[@donaldsmith3048]

Thank you for your video! I have taken my hand held on the plane with me. I had my Anytone 578UVII Plus in a checked bag with coax, power supply, wires and other things. When I got to the other end found a note that they checked my bag. I understand the X-Ray show a lot of wires, and 2 boxes that they can't tell what they are. I don't remember what all the other things were. But when I went to unpack and saw the note, I looked at what was in there and the way it was and thought, WOW that would look really strange on X-Ray. They will go nuts if I get HF radio. I am going to wind my own Balun 9:1, I have some 1.5 inch PVC from when I had a pool. That will look bad!

[@gustav316]

I have flown many times with ham radio gear. Within the U.S., there is never any problem so long as you make sure your batteries are carried in carry-on luggage. I have never had TSA inspect any of my gear beyond the standard X-Ray. Now, going over seas can be a mixed bag. I once flew through Doha, Qatar with two baofengs in my carry-on. We had to rescan our baggage in Doha after deplaning from Kathmandu en route to Miami and security went apoplectic for having a radio transmitting device in carry-on. I claimed ignorance and told them they could keep the $20 radios and that I had only brought them to monitor climbers on Everest. This confused them, but after 15 minutes of insisting that they just keep them or throw them away, I was permitted through security. If you fly internationally, it would be a good idea to review the airline’s rules (I was on a middle eastern carrier - Qatar Airways) and speak with them in advance about transporting radios on board to avoid my situation. Or just bring really cheap radios that are essentially disposable…

[@ReedAB8AS]

Good information Chuck. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@SmokeSignalsRF]

Thank you for the information. My guess if the Smokin’ Ape sticker was on the mast TSA would have acted differently 😉

[@jamesstamper5168]

I’ve only flown once with my ham gear, Detroit to Dallas in 2018. Could not even scan my bag, was told to take everything out and put it in 2 large trays, then send the empty bag and the 2 trays of stuff thru the scanner. When it came out the other end, I was holding up the line while trying to get everything back in the bag. It was embarrassing, I ended up with everything on the floor while repacking the bag so that everyone else could keep moving. I was probably the last guy on the plane. When I got to Dallas there were no issues. Nobody checked my bag, and why should they? I was off the plane and not boarding another one so nobody paid any attention to what was in my bag. The whole event was very stressful and my biggest fear was losing a backpack with about $2,000 worth of radio gear. Losing the bag, even if compensated, would’ve taken weeks to replace everything.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Wow James it so different at every airport it seems, the one time they went through my bag they did take it to a table as not to hold up the rest of the people on the plane , but it did stay in the scanner a while. Thanks for sharing your experience , that's why I made this video!

[@mikemiles3068]

Good video Chuck❗️👍✅. I don’t fly anymore but this is great information for anyone planning a trip.

[@ncoldmanoverland]

thank you for sharing 73 de N4TRD

[@paulhastings3109]

I don't fly my truck takes me to were I want to go. Thanks for the info. 73 KQ4CD Paul ⚓

[@jerrykr7kz]

Great video. Keep up the good work. KR7KZ

[@Sean-AI7EQ]

Great video! I wish I could find that Tokyo amp! Its too bad they went out of business. When I have traveled with ham radio equipment I have a copy of my FCC license with my equipment. It has saved me a headache with TSA more than once.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Sean I forgot to mention that I carry a copy of my license also one in the backpack and one in my wallet, thanks for bringing that up!

[@Sean-AI7EQ]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures No problem! That piece of paper saved me a headache while flying once simply because it had the official FCC logo on it. They stopped asking questions and let me go on my way.

[@user-po4zk4nm1y]

I fly a lot with my drone and Motorola radios . I have TSA pre check. Can leave shoes on an no wait for tsa line . Great video tho and what Sony camera you use for ur videos ? Looks great. Buy def look into tsa pre check . Do fingerprints an get easy tea experience! Buy I can def see with the antennas an radios. I just fly with drone an xts5000 radio.also when you have metal items coving another item they can’t see threw metal items . Only time I have been stopped while flying tsa pre check I have 40 or so bucks in change that’s I saved . Orlando tsa showed me the scan and they couldn’t see threw my bag of change . Hope this helps . Thanks for the video !

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Great tips , I use the Sony 6100 and a 56mm 1.4 sigma lens for the set down part of the video and then the kit lens for the close up video.

[@user-po4zk4nm1y]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures baddd ass. Camera ! So clean ! Thansk again for the video ! I live in vero beach Florida . Not ham licensed yet , I wanted oppinion on recieve . Icom705 or yaesu 991a . I have yaesu air band radio an love it an ft60 . An rest is Motorola xts5000 for police scanning . Just as receiving is yaesu 991a or Icom better ? Thanks for all you do an yes please try tsa pre check ! All you do is go an do finger prints an long as no fellionie charges within 7 years ur good ! Get to go thrrw express line an get to keep ur jacket an shoes on an electronics in bag !! Valid 5 years ! It’s around 80-100 bucks an most credit cards if you use them to pay will pay for pre check fee !!! I fly from Mco to cvg all time !!! Take care

[@johnatilanoii1075]

Get TSA PreCeck. So worth it.

[@kh6qmchristophercolquhoun695]

I try get in the line new x-ray machines and bring radio back forth from HI. I expect to get checked!

[@kirbymcd1]

Have you ever traveled with DIY battery packs? I built a headway pack and worry about it more than a commercial of-the-shelf battery with clear labels and nice packaging.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

No I haven't , but so far I have never seen them look at one of my batteries, but like you I used to worry .

[@DK5ONV]

It's cool if you like Chuck's Documentary Videos and give it a thumbs up. It's just not cool to give it a thumbs down because the Content of this Video this time may be wasn't for you. Try to stay fair folks. Nobody's perfect but we all can learn a whole lot from KK6USY about HAM Radio. Always keep that in mind and think twice before like or dislike what you watch. Keep up great work, Chuck. 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter

[@averageguysradio]

Hey Chuck nice little video, the only thing that I was hoping that you would go a bit deeper on was the LiFePO4 batteries. Jason from Hammock Radio did give me a couple of info from the TSA sight but I would have liked to hear more about your recent personal experience. Dennis (AD6DM) also suggests printing out a copy of your Amateur Radiolicence and place it on top of your gear, do you feel that would have been helpful say in Chicago? Again thank you for sharing. 73

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Yea Jose I did briefly say something about batteries and I had more recorded but somehow cut it out, but I did put a link to the TSA sight on Lithium Batteries. I actually for got to mention the license and also added that in the description and I did have it in Chicago but I guess they didn't see it. Thanks for the comment!

[@averageguysradio]

Thanks Chuck, I did catch that. I guess that the TSA didn't really say much to you about, say the Bioennos capacity or number of spare batteries then. That is cool because I have a 12Ah that I want to take and maybe a spare. I'm not a KZbinr so I don't have the camera gear to contend with. Thank you sir... 73

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

@@averageguysradio Josew, I think your good with the 12 AH I think it is just under the size limit

[@davewhite7679]

The TSA battery capacity limit is measured in "watt hours" not "amp hours". The present TSA limit for LIFEPO4 batteries is 100 "watt hours". So even my 12.8 volt 8 amp hour LIFEPO4 battery is over the limit at 104 "watt hours". KZ9V

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

@@davewhite7679 Yea you are right, it is in watt hours . But read the TSA guide lines again on the size of the batteries your allowed to take. Let me copy and past it here . " Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions) Checked Bags: No Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours may be allowed in carry-on bags with airline approval. One spare battery, not exceeding 300 watt hours, or two spare batteries, not exceeding 160 watt hours each, are permitted in carry-on bags." www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/lithium-batteries-more-100-watt-hours

[@multilecful]

Don't do Dubai even on a hold over, you will not see your gear. Best in your main case. Then you only chance losing your batteries.

[@DavidS-iw4ei]

Laptop in one tray, Radio batteries, (HT and FT-817nd) coax and wire antenna (ENDFED 23') in a separate tray. No problams flying US, UK or Europe. 15+ years. Now get the Captian to let you Tx on 2m over the US Is cool. OK, I got to do it once.

[@leo2944]

Hi! Do you think i can carry a ft710 in a carry on?? Or must go in the check bag??

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I wouldn't check it and I have taken a lot on in a carry-on. Way more than just a radio, but you take that chance they will question you, get there early just incase you need to change your plan.

[@leo2944]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures I did it, in Sacramento TSA made me place my carry on with the radio inside a very large scanner, they saw it super slowly and gave it to me without asking, in Argentina they simply asked me what it was

[@Capecodham]

Have you ever been to Hawaii?