Keyboards and the TSA or Other Airport Security

[Sam]

I apologize if this subject has been covered already.  I did a search but couldn't find anything.

As someone who travels a lot, and usually brings at least one keyboard along with me I've had a few issues with my keyboards and airport security.

I've traveled with multiple keyboards in Asia, though mostly just my Model F AT, and never had a problem or the slightest issue either as a carry-on, or in checked luggage.  Inside a carry-on, they go right through, without even needing to remove them from the bag, no questions asked.  The only problems or issues I've had are in the USA.

I've had the following experiences with the TSA at USA airports.

Realforce 86U, no problem going through the scanner inside my bag.
IBM Model M Spacesaver going through scanner needs to be removed from the bag and rescanned by itself.
IBM Model F going through scanner needs to be removed from the bag and rescanned by itself.
IBM Model F's and M's in checked baggage get opened up and examined but processed fairly quickly.
IBM Beam Spring boards in checked baggage get opened up and TSA evidently wants to check these out very carefully.  Even checking in 3 hours before my flight, they didn't make it and had to be delivered the next day.  Which actually turned out to be a blessing, being I didn't need to haul two 70 pound boxes from the airport to my home.
I've not yet tried to bring any Beam Spring boards onboard, but think I could easily have a problem with the TSA assuming they could be used as a deadly weapon, and perhaps rightfully so.

As far as customs go, I've yet to have any issues there.  Been asked a few times by customs, "what's in the box", and I say "computer keyboards".  When they look over the huge box and ask how many, I say something like "about 20, but they're all at least 25 years old" at which point they just wave me through.  

Ok, I realize that airport security screening isn't an exact science, and your experiences may vary depending on who's doing the screening.  Just thought I'd share my multiple experiences in traveling with keyboards in case anyone else has been wondering.

[dr/owned]

You can't really blame them.  Large quantities of anything (especially 20 keyboards) is inherently suspicious.  They're probably more concerned they could be used for bomb or drug smuggling more than as a direct weapon.

[heedpantsnow]

To them it looks like a big matrix of wires and computer chips; might be suspicious.  I hate all the security but with people putting bombs in their shoes and underwear I don't know what choice they've got.  I just try to be understanding and leave my venting for the guy next to me in the airport lounge.

[False_Dmitry_II]

If our security wasn't still terrible, then I'd be okay with that. They should abolish the TSA and do it like Isreal does, they've not had any problems even though they probably would have by now otherwise.

http://wewontfly.com/

Adam Savage's experience with their not being safe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3yaqq9Jjb4

So suffice to say, I'm not surprised in the least that the US is the only country you've had actual issues with. There are horror stories of them deciding that somebodies xbox 360 is super suspicious, so they confiscate it. They then attempt to take it apart without knowing how to do so. What the person eventually gets back is more of a bag of broken parts and not a xbox anymore.

[Lanx]

lol, when i travelled on vacation i had my netbook/psp/ds/ipod touch/ and various other ereaders and gadgets. TSA made me use a tray for each item and did the bomb test on my netbook, what are they swabbing for?

[Larry Dallas]

One thing I finally learned is that if you travel with your keyboard strapped to your chest, don't shout "God is Great!" when asked to open your shirt and show it to TSA officials.

[digitalleftovers]

One thing I finally learned is that if you travel with your keyboard strapped to your chest, don't shout "God is Great!" when asked to open your shirt and show it to TSA officials.

Speaking of which, we can't forget that poor MIT student who's wearable circuit board led her to be surrounded at gunpoint.  
The article quotes this from the Associated Press:
"She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare told The Associated Press. "And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

Link: http://boingboing.net/2007/09/21/mit-student-arrested.html

[Culinia]

lol, when i travelled on vacation i had my netbook/psp/ds/ipod touch/ and various other ereaders and gadgets. TSA made me use a tray for each item and did the bomb test on my netbook, what are they swabbing for?

'bomb test' that sounds cool, what did they do -- open it up lol...I watch too many films I know

[heedpantsnow]

I was once checking in at the Shenzhen airport, in mainland China opposite Hong Kong.  I bought some canned air in HK b/c it was really hard to find in mainland.  I put it in my checked.  The alarms went off, the agent asked me to open my bag and he pulled it out.  Said it was dangerous.  I said "It's just air, how is it dangerous".  We went back and forth for about 20 minutes, with passengers piling up in line.  Finally, he took out his lighter, popped the top of the can, sprayed it through the flame of the lighter, and a 5 foot fireball shot across the counter, right there at check-in.  Then he said, in broken english, "It dangerous.  Yes."

He won that one.

Yes, I know it has nothing to do with this thread.  Carry on.

[theferenc]

I was once checking in at the Shenzhen airport, in mainland China opposite Hong Kong.  I bought some canned air in HK b/c it was really hard to find in mainland.  I put it in my checked.  The alarms went off, the agent asked me to open my bag and he pulled it out.  Said it was dangerous.  I said "It's just air, how is it dangerous".  We went back and forth for about 20 minutes, with passengers piling up in line.  Finally, he took out his lighter, popped the top of the can, sprayed it through the flame of the lighter, and a 5 foot fireball shot across the counter, right there at check-in.  Then he said, in broken english, "It dangerous.  Yes."

He won that one.

Yes, I know it has nothing to do with this thread.  Carry on.

 
I've flown out of this airport in the past. I love the Chinese airports. They let everything through unless they have a valid reason to do otherwise, as seen above. Well, except for hairy crabs, of course.

Also, you totally made my evening with that story.

[Human]

I was once checking in at the Shenzhen airport, in mainland China opposite Hong Kong.  I bought some canned air in HK b/c it was really hard to find in mainland.  I put it in my checked.  The alarms went off, the agent asked me to open my bag and he pulled it out.  Said it was dangerous.  I said "It's just air, how is it dangerous".  We went back and forth for about 20 minutes, with passengers piling up in line.  Finally, he took out his lighter, popped the top of the can, sprayed it through the flame of the lighter, and a 5 foot fireball shot across the counter, right there at check-in.  Then he said, in broken english, "It dangerous.  Yes."

He won that one.

Yes, I know it has nothing to do with this thread.  Carry on.

 
Either you failed to troll(almost all aerosol can, including pesticide can do the flamethrower trick) or the agent trolled you.

[audioave10]

Great story...LMAO!
Geekhackers...very dangerous in airport terminals.

[rantenki]

I apologize if this subject has been covered already.  I did a search but couldn't find anything.
Realforce 86U, no problem going through the scanner inside my bag.
IBM Model M Spacesaver going through scanner needs to be removed from the bag and rescanned by itself.
IBM Model F going through scanner needs to be removed from the bag and rescanned by itself.
IBM Model F's and M's in checked baggage get opened up and examined but processed fairly quickly.
IBM Beam Spring boards in checked baggage get opened up and TSA evidently wants to check these out very carefully.  Even checking in 3 hours before my flight, they didn't make it and had to be delivered the next day.  Which actually turned out to be a blessing, being I didn't need to haul two 70 pound boxes from the airport to my home.

It is notable that all those trouble keyboards are IBM models with giant steel plates. They probably look like a claymore going through the xray

[Sam]

It is notable that all those trouble keyboards are IBM models with giant steel plates. They probably look like a claymore going through the xray

Yes, that's what I was thinking.  An update to this, after going through TSA security again yesterday, my Realforce 86U was in one bag, along with a mouse, cellphone, SD Card reader, a small PCB with a microcontroller, and a few other gadgets.  My IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard was in another bag.  Both bags went through the scanner, one after the other, so were both screened by the same screener.  The bag with the Realforce and everything else went through, no questions asked, while the one with the IBM got called out.  So I asked the TSA worker about it and he didn't have any answer about the Realforce vs. the IBM but did say that basically anything electronic that's larger than a cellphone needs to be separated and run through by itself.  He specifically mentioned that this includes the Galaxy Tabs and iPads.

[Sam]

I love the Chinese airports.

I think you're the first person I've come across that's loved Chinese airports.  Certainly not me.  Of course, this comes from someone who regularly travels through top three highest rated airports in the world : HKG, ICN, and SIN.  So I guess anything else is bound to be disappointing.  And if comparing the average Chinese airports to any US airport, I'm sure they'd win hands down.  Security hasn't been a problem for me, but long queues, lack of ability to easily transfer, and so-so lounges cause me to generally avoid them unless China is my final destination.  The rule though allowing U.S. passport holders to enter without a visa when transiting to a third country is quite nice if you want to visit someplace in China without the big hassle of getting a visa.  Ok, getting quite off-topic here, so I'd better stop now.

[The Solutor]

I was once checking in at the Shenzhen airport, in mainland China opposite Hong Kong.  I bought some canned air in HK b/c it was really hard to find in mainland.  I put it in my checked.  The alarms went off, the agent asked me to open my bag and he pulled it out.  Said it was dangerous.  I said "It's just air, how is it dangerous".  We went back and forth for about 20 minutes, with passengers piling up in line.  Finally, he took out his lighter, popped the top of the can, sprayed it through the flame of the lighter, and a 5 foot fireball shot across the counter, right there at check-in.  Then he said, in broken english, "It dangerous.  Yes."

He won that one.

Yes, I know it has nothing to do with this thread.  Carry on.

 

When I swapped the switches on my Xarmor I used my Portasol (butane powered solder), I forgot to buy a new charge of butane, so I used a can of "Air" to recharge it.

Canned Air *was* freon. Now is just butane/propane

[digitalleftovers]

When I swapped the switches on my Xarmor I used my Portasol (butane powered solder), I forgot to buy a new charge of butane, so I used a can of "Air" to recharge it.

Canned Air *was* freon. Now is just butane/propane

Whoa there.  When you say "air", I immediately imagine this:



But that is compressed CO2 and doesn't burn (at any temp I can produce).  What brand of "air" contains flammable gases?

[The Solutor]

Whoa there.  When you say "air", I immediately imagine this:

Show Image

But that is compressed CO2 and doesn't burn (at any temp I can produce).  What brand of "air" contains flammable gases?

 
Obviously CO2 doesn't burn (it's a little fire estinguer)

BTW mine it's just branded as "office cleaner" and is filled with butane, which is used as propeller on many spray can, after the freon ban (which was also flammable).

I think that butane is more effective than Co2 because can be easily liquefied at room temperatures. So it's obviously more dangerous but you obtain more "air" from the same sized can.