Electronics on Plane

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

I will be heading to Tucson later next month and would like to know what others have done with portable radios in a carry bag. I will be taking my KX2, along with extra Lith-ion batteries in my Go-box. How “sensitive” are the TSA and airlines carrying electronics on board. Is a checked bag any easier to bring rather than a carry on? I will be QRP/7   3rd week September. Dennis – K1LGQ

[David Merchant]

Dennis,

There are no concerns about taking the radios or batteries on-board, unless you turn them on in flight.  The one that is prohibited from checked baggage is Lithium-Ion batteries that aren’t contained in a device, like a laptop. Just make sure you bring them in your carry-on and not in your checked bag.

73, Dave

K1DLM

[Anonymous]

Just this week, I flew with my KX2 in my carry-on with the built-in battery. No one seemed to care.

 

Safe travels!

[Anonymous]

There are restrictions on lithium-based batteries, and on devices that contain lithium-based batteries.

Standalone batteries, including USB power packs, MUST be carried on. You may not check them. They are limited to 100 watt hours (unless you get approval from the airline, and I wouldn’t bother trying unless it’s a battery for a medical device), and you can carry a maximum of two. If you’re carrying a battery large enough to possibly be over the limit, you should choose batteries where the capacity is clearly labeled by the manufacturer so the TSA can verify the capacity. Batteries must be packed in a way that doesn’t allow contacts to be short-circuited.

For most traveling hams I would recommend one LiFePo4 battery for powering your radio, and one large USB charger for everything else. Fortunately for us QRP operators, you can operate for many hours with a battery that you can carry onto a plane. The limit will be much more challenging for people who were planning to do a higher power setup such as a 100W station in a park; a 100 Wh battery won’t run one of those for long.

Devices containing lithium batteries may be either checked or carried on, but the FAA recommends carrying them if possible. (You probably want to anyway as they’ll be the most valuable things you are traveling with.) There is no limit on the number of devices with batteries with a capacity of 100Wh or less, but they must all be for personal use. (All current laptops, phones, and tablets are under the limit. Some older laptops offered optional extended capacity batteries that were not compliant.) If you check a device with a lithium battery it must be completely powered down and protected from being turned back on accidentally. The usual soft power switch isn’t enough; you’ll need to package the device so that the power switch can’t be hit by items shifting in transit.

There are separate rules for batteries in mobility devices. You will want to read those if you are traveling with one.

You can read more here: https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/

Off-topic but relevant: it’s probably best to check wire antennas. The TSA agent might decide that the wire could be used as a weapon.

[Anonymous]

I fly for a regional airline and take my KX2 on most trips. Everything fits in a hard plastic watertight case from the camping section in Walmart and goes in my bag that might make it into the cargo hold. The battery gets removed and stays in my bag that will always be in the cabin. Crews have a special bag in the cabin for dealing with a lithium battery thermal runaway, hence the rule.

[Jamey Finchum]

Dennis,

I have traveled several times to Tucson with my KX2 and buddipole and have not had a problem. Same as the other state, just keep the batteries in your carry-on luggage.

If you have some free time you should visit this:  https://www.gvarc.us/titan-missile-museum.html

Have fun!

73,

Jamey, AC1DC

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

The number of replies is terrific! Every bit of information is well researched and full of heavy facts. I’ll take the KX2 and remove the battery showing the TSA everything is above board. I don’t need to have anything confiscated, and I am sure it wouldn’t be. There are a LOT of regulations, and in this time of life, we need every one. I suspect the KX2 is the least of the TSA’s problems.

 

Jim, the DISCONE story is truly something I wish we had in this area, especially at 80 feet. TNX for the tip. It was VERY interesting and the pictures made it even better.

 

TNX to ALL who replied to my post. This is where the Ham radio fraternity kicks in and makes this hobby a fun sport! Dennis K1LGQ

 

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