Traveling with a scanner

A TSA screener watches over airport passengers.

Do you like to travel with a scanner?

I almost never travel without a scanner. Typically, I carry along a GRE PSR-500 handheld or RadioShack Pro-197 mobile/base radio.

The handheld is good for mobile use or when I am sitting at an airport. It also allows me to do some on-site monitoring, such as I did when listening to crews aboard the cruiseships in port when we were visiting Caribbean islands.

The mobile/base scanner I typically use in locales I visit frequently and perhaps have the ability to put up a yagi or other antenna to get increased reception. I might have the handheld scanner going on the local channels while I use the base scanner for sniffing out new frequencies, talkgroups and radio systems at the same time.

I often see scanner hobbyists post on listservs and bulletin boards concerns about carrying their scanner aboard airplanes and past TSA security. My simple advice is it isn’t an issue. I’ve carried mobile and handheld scanners aboard aircraft and although my carry-ons might get some additional scrutiny by the TSA screeners because of the bulk of electronics I am carrying, nonetheless, I have not experienced any problems. The only experience I have had came pre-9/11 and I was required to turn on a radio (I can’t remember whether it was a scanner or amateur handheld radio) just to prove it was functional.

I would advise that you keep your batteries on you with your radio in case security wants to check to see that your radio is functional, however, with the screening equipment available now, they most likely can see inside the radio to ensure you aren’t up to any monkeybusiness on the plane.

Oh, and don’t turn on your scanner on the plane. It just isn’t allowed and you might even get in trouble. However, while you are waiting to board  your plane, feel free to listen all you wish — with headphones or an earphone so you don’t annoy others around you and don’t raise any suspicions. My goal while waiting always it to find the frequency used by the gate agents so I know a few minutes in advance when the plane will be boarding. I pack up and I’m ready to go — while everyone else is scrambling!