Wayne, Sounds like you have a very good system. In fact, excellent. Personally, I would go with it.
The problem arises if you are 'counting on' something. This is the voice of travel experience talking. If your prepared to loose your 'stuff', your prepared. What is 'cheap' to us, is often very valuable in other countries, or there is a black market which supplements poor governmental job incomes. I've had books taken from me by customs that had 'God' written in the text yet were not by any means religious books - and a 3 hour interrogation which detained the whole tour group. I've been 'detained' in military barracks under armed guard in Moscow. Because of a typhoon aircraft re-routing landed us in other country. We were 'secured' under guard along with detailed inspections because none of us had the required visas for the country adjacent to our destination which had 'military police action' occurring in it. People with extra things, lost things. The ground rules change as to priorities when you have a tear gas canister flying by your head. Depending on where you are, rape is also viewed differently - even for older 70 year + women. The issue is power ($), not proprietary rights. If it is not really plain and simple, it might find a new home even before you get to your destination depending on how many 'connections' you make. If it all gets there, and you get to keep it, it's a bonus. Travel light. But most of all, ENJOY, because travel is great and usually goes fine. Sparks of excitement keep you on your toes, keep your wits about you and is fodder for amazing stories to tell when you get home. Christine From: Wayne Fugitt <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 19:46:57 -0500 Subject: CS>Labeling of CS Generator Evening Christine, I have a unique label I print for my Telephone Line Generator. The front side says, "Telephone Line Tester". It has no batteries and no power supply. On the back, the label reads, "For Analog Systems Only" "Do not use with any Digital System" I do not know of anything taking this device thru customs. It is in fact a phone line tester. Plug in the phone line, short the alligator clips together, and the LED glows. This tells you the phone line is good, or at least some voltage is present. I can't imagine customs, Airport Security, or anyone else not letting it pass. It is even built into a surface mounted telephone terminal block. If they open it up and look inside, and they know nothing about electronics, the may YELL for technical assistance. It contains one led, one resistor, and one full wave bridge rectifier. The purpose of the rectifier is so that the red alligator clip will always be positive, no matter what the polarity of the phone line. It would work without this. However for the LED to work, the polarity must be right, and the full wave bridge will always provide the correct polarity, no matter what the polarity of the phone line. However in a third world country one must consider such thing as 1. electricity challenges - frequency of service Do most cities in the third world countries have phone systems? YES - sometimes they are disconnected for 'strange' reasons - that's when you bolt the doors into the cement floor, into the reinforced door frame above the door and on the side, and lock down the window shutters. When mini tanks are scurrying about, phone and electrical lines are not a priority. AND a lot missionary work is done out of the cities in the country which has a reduced standard of regularity. If so, what is the voltage? Wayne, I don't know - I got tired of adapters, some fitting, some not, and got smart and just bought what I need new in each country. 2. the instrument is not 'detained' at customs I would like to see if that happens. It would be interesting, however it they decide to 'forward it to you later' after they have 'inspected it', usually it's an euphemism and often you can wait forever. . . . . . . . . . . . You have to be careful not to 'piss people off' - sometimes the colour of your skin is enough to annoy someone, or your accent, or you look like the 'wife' who gave him the 'chill' that morning ... I don't know why - but it happens. I don't play with officials in any country and if they 'eye something' they can have it. It makes my easier in the long run. If your prepared to loose your 'stuff', your prepared. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
