Travel to Europe with KX3 questions

[Jim K6JS]

Hello all,

We're traveling to EI, I and SV during September. I'd like to bring my KX3 with me.

I assume rig and battery should be in carry-on?
Does anybody with experience traveling with a QRP have suggestions and recommendations?
We'll be staying in AirBNB's in EI and I and my cousins house in SV.

Questions I have:
What Coax should I bring (weight is a consideration) How much? 20'? 50'?
Antenna(s) - EFHW? Dipole?
Battery - Not sure on this one... I haven't used the KX3 alot, so don't know what size I should get.
I assume a 3 - 7 Ah LiPO. I'll probably operate 1 to 3 hours "holiday" style. 90% CW

I'll bring copies of my license(s).EI, I and SV are CEPT countries.

Any help/suggestions is appreciated.

73,
Jim K6JS

[Andrew (grayhat)]

If memory serves me correctly, the battery is a "carry on", but it should be removed from the rig and kept inside a sealed bag

As for the remainder of your questions, I suggest you to carry a "random" wire antenna with a 9:1 and a counterpoise, plus a run of (say) 33 ft or so coax (pick some thin one but stay away from RG-58, RG-142 would be nice, but it isn't cheap), add some thin ropes (e.g. "paracord") cut to different lengths (say 33, 17 and 8 ft) some velcro strips and small carabiners, those will help hanging the antenna, also, if you want, consider bringing two antenna radiators (insulated wire) for example 35ft and 84ft plus a 17ft counterpoise wire, that way you'll be able to select the lenght matching your operating conditions or use the longer one to cover all bands in case there's a low bands opening and/or higher ones are closed (you may even buy the wire locally at some home improvement store), in either case you'll just need to replace the radiator wire connected to the 9:1 w/o too much hassle, the idea is that an EFRW will usually just require a single "high" support (and may easily be laid off as a sloper/vertical)

As for the 9:1, if you don't have one and don't want (or can't) wind one yourself, you may pick a commercial one like this

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ldg-ru-9-1

and optionally add a choke too, like this one

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ldg-ru-1-1

in such a case connect the choke with a short piece of coax (say 10 in) right after the 9:1 feeding the antenna and, from the choke, start with the (longer) coax going to your TRX

HTH

[Jim K6JS]

Hi Andrew,

This is just the response I was looking for.

I ordered and just received Bioenno 4.5 Ah LiFePO4 battery. I also bought a Talentcell 3000 and 6000 mAh
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7Z9Z1N?ps ... ct_details
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MF70BPU?ps ... ct_details
The Talentcell's were recommended by a SOTA ham from the NCCC(Northern Cal. Contest Club)

I've been playing around with some EFHW antennas in the backyard. 1/2 W radiator and counterpoise
straight to BNC binding post on the KX3. I'll probably wind myself a 9:1xformer.

Also bringing 25' of RG316.

Thanks and 73
Jim
K6JS

[Andrew (grayhat)]

I've been playing around with some EFHW antennas in the backyard. 1/2 W radiator and counterpoise
straight to BNC binding post on the KX3. I'll probably wind myself a 9:1xformer.

Also bringing 25' of RG316.

A note, for an EFHW you'll need at least a 49:1, the 9:1 ratio is ok for an EFRW, the idea is to cut the latter so that, not being resonant on any of the bands, the impedance won't be very low (as for 1/4 wave) nor very high (as for 1/2 wave) so the 9:1 will be able to bring down the impedance to a reasonable value and allow the ATU to find a match, as for winding a 9:1, it isn't difficult, just look here

https://vk6ysf.com/unun_9-1_v3.htm

add a small box to host the 9:1 and avoid damages to the toroid, add a coax connector, a pair of binding posts and a ring bolt to the box and you'll have it, willing to also wind a choke, you may go for something like this

https://vk6ysf.com/balun_choke_balun_hf_reisert.htm

and btw the above will be enclosed in a small box as well, in this second case, just add two coax connectors to place the choke between your rig and the antenna (ideally between the 9:1 and the coax going to the rig), the choke isn't mandatory, but since you don't know where you'll lay your antenna, it will help in case there are some human made noise sources nearby, as for the antenna, pick a length for the radiator here

https://udel.edu/~mm/ham/randomWire/

and add a run of wire to act as your counterpoise, about 17ft of wire for the latter should fit pretty well, notice that, as I wrote, you may just travel with the 9:1 and the choke, then buy some length of wire when you'll be at destination, given you'll be in EI, I and SV I don't think you'll have problems buying a length of insulated wire there just... remember to bring some ropes, small carabiners and so on (duct tape can be bought locally), those will help you installing your antenna wherever you'll be using it

[Andrew (grayhat)]

and since you'll be here in EU, check this

https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/2b2c-li ... tory/32984

[N8TGQ]

I flew cross country with a person that used an electric wheelchair. There were a number of questions and requirements she needed to negotiate before they would allow her batteries on board.

Check with your carrier before just showing up at the boarding gate with your battery. May save some grief!

Have fun!
Rick N8TGQ

[kc0myw]

This is just my experience, and it wasn't international travel, but I've flown with my KX-2 on 2 separate trips and didn't have any issues or questions from TSA or airlines either time.

What I did was have the battery installed inside the radio and did NOT bring along any additional batteries for it. I often use a small Bioenno to power my KX-2 but didn't want to bother with it during air travel so I accepted the limitations of the smaller battery and reminded myself that it wasn't a 'radio trip' but just a trip that I was bringing a radio along on and the very capable KX-2 battery was more than sufficient for the amount of use that I was able to squeeze in. I also had the charger along to recharge it between uses.

I had the 'fragile bits' (radio, mic, key, binding-post adapter, and a couple other coax adapters) all in the ES-60 and that was inside my carry-on along with the charger, my laptop charger, and a bunch of other stuff and there were no issues and I never even took it out of my bag in the airport.

The rest of the station was in my checked bag: coax, antenna wire, throw line, MPAS Lite, ground radials, logbook, 550 cord, carabineers, etc. and it all went smoothly.

Inspired by Thomas's latest survey, I've been thinking about writing something up with some details, but this should at least give you the main idea.

[K4RLC]

Here is the link to the official TSA website for policies on batteries, an instructive read:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-scr ... ies&page=2
Had the KX2 in the Caribbean, flying thru Miami and no problems.
Most interesting was taking the KX1, with extra wire, tape, batteries and tools into Helsinki, Finland. Customs went through everything and were literally scratching their heads....they called me over and I explained that I was an amateur radio operator (there for a professional conference). One of the customs guys knew abt ham radio and Martti Lane, and welcomed me with a smile to Finland. Ham radio is very popular in Finland.
73 de K4RLC Bob

[K4SWL]

I'm a little late to reply here:
I should add here that the great thing about the KX3 is that it can be powered by a very modest battery. I know a couple talent cell USB battery banks (https://amzn.to/3Z9w8Ve) would pass through security and be well within spec of what you can carry on. Only issue would be if the power supply can switch to 220/240. I don't have mine with me at present to check.

I suspect, though, that you'll be fine with the battery you choose.
Please let us know how the trip goes!

Cheers,
Thomas
(K4SWL)

[n3jwj]

I just got back after activity in SV1, SV8 and SV9. CEPT requires you carry specific paperwork including a US Advanced or Extra official copy license. The Greek Amateur Radio Society strongly suggests printing the regulation document in Greek (at least 1st page and pages 27097, 27098) and carrying it with you, in order to show it to the Greek Authorities, if needed. https://raag.org/wp-content/uploads/202 ... ΥΧΟΣ-Β.pdf
Pages 27097 and 27098 (articles 22 and 25) describe operation in Greece for visitors under CEPT.