my shortwave radio was confiscated by the Canadian Border Patrol
 

actually, this happened many many years ago, not recently.

My family and I were on vacation taking a trip to Canada. I had two radios
with me, my shortwave radio and my scanner. When I found out that my parents
decided to go to Canada also, I was worried about hthem possibly confiscating
my scanner. I didn't worry about the shortwave as I had thought that that was
legal to take into Canada. The shortwave radio covered the AM broadcast band
and some of the international broadcast bands. (not continous). and was the
analog tuning kind with a slide rule dial for a pointer to read the approximate
frequency and a rotary tuning knob.

However, when they checked , they said the scanner was allowed into Canada but
that my shortwave radio was not allowed into Canada.

They told me that radios that tune between 1610 khz and 30 mhz are not allowed
in Canada, and told me that shortwave radios are not legal in Canada and told
me that it is ilegal to listen to the international broadcast bands whilee
you're in Canada.

Obviously, these particular borderr patrol agents were familiar with shortwave
radios to know the terms "international broadcast bands".

They then confiscated my shortwave radio and told me that I would get it back
from their Canadian authorities when I re-enter the U.S.

However, when I re-entered the U.S., I never got it back as I was promised.
even though I tried to both then and afterwards.

And I never saw that shortwave radio again. And it was a good shortwave radio
that picked up good for that time.

A post in the scanner radio newsgroup reminded me of that happening to me years
ago.

I now think that those Canadian Border Patrol Agents purposely stole my
shortwave radio. But then, why steal a cheap radio?

The scanner looked more expensive (although that was cheap, also)., but hey let
me take that across and told me it was legal to listen to the police
frequencies in Canada, but against the law to listen to the international
broadcast bands in Canada.

"Mediaguy500" wrote in message

They told me that radios that tune between 1610 khz and 30 mhz are not
allowed
in Canada, and told me that shortwave radios are not legal in Canada and
told
me that it is ilegal to listen to the international broadcast bands whilee
you're in Canada.

Obviously, these particular borderr patrol agents were familiar with
shortwave
radios to know the terms "international broadcast bands".

They then confiscated my shortwave radio and told me that I would get it
back
from their Canadian authorities when I re-enter the U.S.


Sounds like they stole it off you. Of course it isn't illegal to listen to
SW in Canada - there would be no radio hams or BBC listeners in Canada in
that case and the Sackville TX would be illegal to listen to.

--
Simon Mason
Anlaby
East Yorkshire.
53°44'N 0°26'W™
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

"Mediaguy500" wrote in message
...

[snip]


However, when they checked , they said the scanner was allowed into Canada
but
that my shortwave radio was not allowed into Canada.

They told me that radios that tune between 1610 khz and 30 mhz are not
allowed
in Canada, and told me that shortwave radios are not legal in Canada and
told
me that it is ilegal to listen to the international broadcast bands whilee
you're in Canada.


Of course, Canada has several domestic broadcasters in the international
broadcast bands such as CFRX. More than that, many SW receivers were made
in Canada. Rogers and Hallicrafters of Canada were making them, and I'm
sure there were others.


[snip]


I now think that those Canadian Border Patrol Agents purposely stole my
shortwave radio. But then, why steal a cheap radio?


Corruption has certain requirements, but intelligence is not one of them.

[snip]

Frank Dresser

"Mediaguy500" wrote:

And I never saw that shortwave radio again.
And it was a good shortwave radio that
picked up good for that time.

A post in the scanner radio newsgroup
reminded me of that happening to me years
ago.

I now think that those Canadian Border
Patrol Agents purposely stole my shortwave
radio. But then, why steal a cheap radio?


Sounds to me like some border agents forgot to bring a radio to work that
day. Perhaps wanting to hear some music or a local sports event, they
decided to "borrow" one from a passing motorist. This type of stuff is
certainly not new, or unique to Canada.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

They probably already had a scanner...



"Mediaguy500" wrote in message
...
actually, this happened many many years ago, not recently.

My family and I were on vacation taking a trip to Canada. I had two
radios
with me, my shortwave radio and my scanner. When I found out that my
parents
decided to go to Canada also, I was worried about hthem possibly
confiscating
my scanner. I didn't worry about the shortwave as I had thought that that
was
legal to take into Canada. The shortwave radio covered the AM broadcast
band
and some of the international broadcast bands. (not continous). and was
the
analog tuning kind with a slide rule dial for a pointer to read the
approximate
frequency and a rotary tuning knob.

However, when they checked , they said the scanner was allowed into Canada
but
that my shortwave radio was not allowed into Canada.

They told me that radios that tune between 1610 khz and 30 mhz are not
allowed
in Canada, and told me that shortwave radios are not legal in Canada and
told
me that it is ilegal to listen to the international broadcast bands whilee
you're in Canada.

Obviously, these particular borderr patrol agents were familiar with
shortwave
radios to know the terms "international broadcast bands".

They then confiscated my shortwave radio and told me that I would get it
back
from their Canadian authorities when I re-enter the U.S.

However, when I re-entered the U.S., I never got it back as I was
promised.
even though I tried to both then and afterwards.

And I never saw that shortwave radio again. And it was a good shortwave
radio
that picked up good for that time.

A post in the scanner radio newsgroup reminded me of that happening to me
years
ago.

I now think that those Canadian Border Patrol Agents purposely stole my
shortwave radio. But then, why steal a cheap radio?

The scanner looked more expensive (although that was cheap, also)., but
hey let
me take that across and told me it was legal to listen to the police
frequencies in Canada, but against the law to listen to the international
broadcast bands in Canada.

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
nk.net...
"Mediaguy500" wrote:

And I never saw that shortwave radio again.
And it was a good shortwave radio that
picked up good for that time.

I now think that those Canadian Border
Patrol Agents purposely stole my shortwave
radio. But then, why steal a cheap radio?


Sounds to me like some border agents forgot to bring a radio to work
that
day. Perhaps wanting to hear some music or a local sports event, they
decided to "borrow" one from a passing motorist. This type of stuff is
certainly not new, or unique to Canada.


I would have expected better from Canadians. I always knew them to be a
virtuous people. That's the kind of stunt third world customs agents would
pull.

Clark KK7DY

Mediaguy500 wrote:

actually, this happened many many years ago, not recently.

My family and I were on vacation taking a trip to Canada. I had two radios


This is what, your *third* identity here. I've read your posts. Are you
bored or something? Some of the statements you've made are just plain
nonsensical.

Stop while you're ahead.



mike

I would have expected better from Canadians. I always knew them to be a
virtuous people.

well, actually, I think they weren't Canadian at all. I think they were from
the U.S. here, but they claimed to be Canadian Border Patrol Guards and
Canadian custom agents, and they did somehow get inside the booths near the
border crossing.

But evidence since then suggests that they weren't really the Canadian guards
that they claimed to be. Evidence since then suggest that they were certain
hams from right here in the U.S. (just a few of them).

However, I wasn't able to get any "hard evidence".

By "soft evidence", I mean evidence to me that they weren't really who they
claimed to be.

By "hard evidence", I mean evidence to be able to prove to other people that
they weren't really who they said they were.

even if I am using the terms "soft evidence" and "hard evidence" in incorrect
ways.

Without hard evidence that they weren't realy Canadian like they said they
were, I posted as they claimed that they were.

They probably already had a scanner..

you're probably correct.

Evidence that has come to light since then proves that they were really certain
ham radio operators from the U.S. who were illegally pretending to be Canadian
Border Patrol Guards (although I'm sure that they found some loophole to
legally do their illegal activities. That ssounds contradictory, but it isn't.
They were very smart, bery intelligent, and very sneaky, and that's a dangerous
combination when used for purposely illegal activities.)

I know that not all hamss are that way. I would say a small minority.

However, there are other legal hams who think that no ham radio operator would
ever commit illegal activities.

However, I know from experience that they are wrong.

the trutth is, it's like most everywhere else, there's some good people in it
and some bad people in it.

We don't have border agents or border patrol types in Canada, nor have we
ever as far as I know. We do have customs agents. Trust me, I've been around
a long time, and it has never been illegal to listen to shortwave radio in
Canada.


"Mediaguy500" wrote in message
...
actually, this happened many many years ago, not recently.

My family and I were on vacation taking a trip to Canada. I had two
radios
with me, my shortwave radio and my scanner. When I found out that my
parents
decided to go to Canada also, I was worried about hthem possibly
confiscating
my scanner. I didn't worry about the shortwave as I had thought that that
was
legal to take into Canada. The shortwave radio covered the AM broadcast
band
and some of the international broadcast bands. (not continous). and was
the
analog tuning kind with a slide rule dial for a pointer to read the
approximate
frequency and a rotary tuning knob.

However, when they checked , they said the scanner was allowed into Canada
but
that my shortwave radio was not allowed into Canada.

They told me that radios that tune between 1610 khz and 30 mhz are not
allowed
in Canada, and told me that shortwave radios are not legal in Canada and
told
me that it is ilegal to listen to the international broadcast bands whilee
you're in Canada.

Obviously, these particular borderr patrol agents were familiar with
shortwave
radios to know the terms "international broadcast bands".

They then confiscated my shortwave radio and told me that I would get it
back
from their Canadian authorities when I re-enter the U.S.

However, when I re-entered the U.S., I never got it back as I was
promised.
even though I tried to both then and afterwards.

And I never saw that shortwave radio again. And it was a good shortwave
radio
that picked up good for that time.

A post in the scanner radio newsgroup reminded me of that happening to me
years
ago.

I now think that those Canadian Border Patrol Agents purposely stole my
shortwave radio. But then, why steal a cheap radio?

The scanner looked more expensive (although that was cheap, also)., but
hey let
me take that across and told me it was legal to listen to the police
frequencies in Canada, but against the law to listen to the international
broadcast bands in Canada.

Mediaguy500 ) writes:
actually, this happened many many years ago, not recently.

My family and I were on vacation taking a trip to Canada. I had two radios
with me, my shortwave radio and my scanner. When I found out that my parents
decided to go to Canada also, I was worried about hthem possibly confiscating
my scanner. I didn't worry about the shortwave as I had thought that that was
legal to take into Canada. The shortwave radio covered the AM broadcast band
and some of the international broadcast bands. (not continous). and was the
analog tuning kind with a slide rule dial for a pointer to read the approximate
frequency and a rotary tuning knob.

However, when they checked , they said the scanner was allowed into Canada but
that my shortwave radio was not allowed into Canada.

They told me that radios that tune between 1610 khz and 30 mhz are not allowed
in Canada, and told me that shortwave radios are not legal in Canada and told
me that it is ilegal to listen to the international broadcast bands whilee
you're in Canada.

Sounds like someone wants to give Canada a bad image, so they make up a story
years after the event that doesn't ring true.

Michael

We don't have border agents or border patrol types in Canada, nor have we
ever as far as I know. We do have customs agents. Trust me, I've been around
a long time, and it has never been illegal to listen to shortwave radio in
Canada.

I belive you. As I said before, it has come to light since then that they
weren't really who they said they were, and weren't even Canadian.

However, they claimed to be the Canadian Border Patrol and customs agents. In
other words, the two occupations were one and the same and only one occupation
to them.

However, with the evidence that has come to light since then, they were full
of it.

Sounds like someone wants to give Canada a bad image, so they make up a story
years after the event that doesn't ring true.


well, I certainly didn't mean to give that impression. 1. I didn't make up the
story. It is true.

2. I have been to Canada on vacation and it is a nice place, and the people I
met there are nice.

3. You are probably correct that someone wanted to give Canada a bad image, but
it's not me.

It was certain other U.S. people wanting to give Canada a bad image to me.

which did work for a while after they took my shortwave radio, while I believed
them.

When it camr to light that they weren't really who they said they were, and who
they really were, and where they were really from, the image of Canada to me is
once again good.

Back then, while I had my shortwave radio, I also used to frequently listen to
Radio Canada International.

Not that there was much need for me to, as I pretty much regularly picked up
CFPL-TV channel 10, London, Ontario on my tv.

Not always, but very frequently did, along with other less-frequent tv stations
such as CKCO-TV channel 42. Not sure where that transmitter is located.

And sometime in the past, CKLW-FM.

although the AM "CKLW" always came in good here except on my newest radio that
I have now, which has very very very poor AM reception (sensitivity).

I also regularly got some other Canadian radio stations, but they didn't I.D..
like the U.S. stations. I would wait hours and hours on one frequency for an
official I.D. and never heard one.

I finally gave up and just used their slogan I.D. they announced or the network
thy announced, such as CBC.

By the way, CFPL-TV 10 used to show CBC network programs back when I watched it
years ago.

Todaay, it seems to be an independent station toi me.

Sounds like someone wants to give Canada a bad image, so they make up a story
years after the event that doesn't ring true.


ah, but it is true. I also know that main ham's (the one responsible for most
of it) current call letters.

And using the term "soft evidence" in what I believe is the correct way to use
the term (does prove to other people by exposing the whole situation and
everyone involved with it)., I could expose them . However,

to fully expose them means that I also have to expose innocent people who may
not want their names and adresses printed on the internett. (just their names
and the city where it all happened will expose their adresses t o anyone who
wants to find them) and is probably illegal to do so if they son't want their
names on the internet.

However, not exposing the names of the innocent people also, leaves gaps in my
"proof" that could be said to not be proof since those gaps exist.

Becfause of the legality questions, plus if it were me in their shoes,

I'll have to go with only partially exposing the criminals instead of fully
exposing them, otherwise innocent people might get hurt.

I think that's part of the reason that Dragnet changed the names in their true
stories:

"only the names have been changed in order to protect the innocent".

However, that was back in the 50's and 60's.

today, doing that is considered "fraud" by judges, or at least by one judge,

Hey,

All my SW receivers were bought here. I think you got taken. If it were
illegal, Radio Shack Canada wouldn't be allowed to sell them. See for
yourself:

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Cate...g=Radi oShack

When I go to the U.S., I register anything I take over there that may give
me problems coming back, just to prove they came from Canada

Take Care
Abb N


"Pete" wrote in message
e.rogers.com...
We don't have border agents or border patrol types in Canada, nor have we
ever as far as I know. We do have customs agents. Trust me, I've been
around
a long time, and it has never been illegal to listen to shortwave radio in
Canada.

"AbbN" wrote in message
...
Hey,

All my SW receivers were bought here. I think you got taken. If it were
illegal, Radio Shack Canada wouldn't be allowed to sell them. See for
yourself:


http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Cate...g=Radi oShack

When I go to the U.S., I register anything I take over there that may give
me problems coming back, just to prove they came from Canada



The only possible reason for this actually happening that I can think of
would have been a very long time ago, when Canada required a radio license..
but I'm not sure that applied to SW radios, or if it applied to tourists.

"Brenda Ann Dyer" wrote in message
...

"AbbN" wrote in message
...
Hey,

All my SW receivers were bought here. I think you got taken. If it were
illegal, Radio Shack Canada wouldn't be allowed to sell them. See for
yourself:



http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Cate...agenum=1&categ
ory=ShortwaveRadios&catalog=RadioShack

When I go to the U.S., I register anything I take over there that may
give
me problems coming back, just to prove they came from Canada



The only possible reason for this actually happening that I can think of
would have been a very long time ago, when Canada required a radio
license..
but I'm not sure that applied to SW radios, or if it applied to tourists.

B.A.

Read between the lines. This guy's whole story is bogus.

-- Stinger

"Clark Neider" wrote:

I would have expected better from
Canadians. I always knew them to
be a virtuous people. That's the kind
of stunt third world customs agents
would pull.


From what I've seen, most Canadians are. But, of course, there are always
exceptions. Anyway, if you've read the messages from "Mediaguy500" since
then, you'll likely agree the entire story was probably false.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

Hi,

I've never heard of license for SW receivers. When I was young my parents
and most of my relatives had SW receivers - they were very popular then. In
the mid 60's I use to listen to my parents Zenith Trans Oceanic. You needed
a license for a CB way back then - perhaps that's what you were thinking of.

Take Care
Abb N
VE3003SWL
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

"Brenda Ann Dyer" wrote in message
...

"AbbN" wrote in message
...
Hey,

All my SW receivers were bought here. I think you got taken. If it were
illegal, Radio Shack Canada wouldn't be allowed to sell them. See for
yourself:



http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Cate...g=Radi oShack

When I go to the U.S., I register anything I take over there that may
give
me problems coming back, just to prove they came from Canada



The only possible reason for this actually happening that I can think of
would have been a very long time ago, when Canada required a radio
license..
but I'm not sure that applied to SW radios, or if it applied to tourists.

"AbbN" ) writes:
Hi,

I've never heard of license for SW receivers. When I was young my parents
and most of my relatives had SW receivers - they were very popular then. In
the mid 60's I use to listen to my parents Zenith Trans Oceanic. You needed
a license for a CB way back then - perhaps that's what you were thinking of.

Take Care
Abb N
VE3003SWL
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

No, there was a time when every(?) receiver in Canada did require a "license".
This would have been similar to the license for receivers that they have
in the UK. In both cases, it's not about registering a radio, but about
collecting a levy to pay for pay broadcasting.

I really have no details of this in Canada, other than it did happen decades
ago. The family radio when I was growing up had a license on the inside of
the case, which is where I first learned of the rule in the early seventies
when I became interested in radio. Obviously, the license requirement had
not been in place for some years.

Michael

"Brenda Ann Dyer" wrote in message
...

"AbbN" wrote in message
...
Hey,

All my SW receivers were bought here. I think you got taken. If it were
illegal, Radio Shack Canada wouldn't be allowed to sell them. See for
yourself:



http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Cate...g=Radi oShack

When I go to the U.S., I register anything I take over there that may
give
me problems coming back, just to prove they came from Canada



The only possible reason for this actually happening that I can think of
would have been a very long time ago, when Canada required a radio
license..
but I'm not sure that applied to SW radios, or if it applied to tourists.

-=jd=- wrote:

I'm putting this one in the same pigeon-hole as the poster who told the
story about failing his Ham test because the VE's said he was ugly.

It's the same person.




mike

AbbN wrote:
Hi,

I've never heard of license for SW receivers. When I was young my parents
and most of my relatives had SW receivers - they were very popular then. In
the mid 60's I use to listen to my parents Zenith Trans Oceanic. You needed
a license for a CB way back then - perhaps that's what you were thinking of.


The guy claiming to have had his radio taken away has been trolling
here for a few weeks. He's also said he failed his Ham test because his
examiners thought he was'nt good looking enough.


The radio license fee in Canada was cancelled in the fifties, but don't
quote me on that as being an exact decade. England had it until '71.
The fee applied to ALL radio receivers. You paid a yearly fee. There
would be the odd government truck going around detecting unlicensed sets.

When commercial radio got a good foothold, the fees, that used to pay
for public broadcasting, were discontinued.

http://www.northernelectric.ca/radio...ot_warning.htm



================================================== ====

The 10 shillings fee remained in force until the end of the World War
II. 1946 saw a doubling of the radio fee, and when black and white
television was first introduced, its fee was 2 pounds (double that of
radio). The license fee for radio was dropped in 1971 and today, only
the color television fee remains, rising periodically, for example from
46 pounds in 1981 to 85 pounds in 1995.

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/L/...licensefee.htm
================================================== =====

AbbN wrote:

Hi,

I've never heard of license for SW receivers. When I was young my parents
and most of my relatives had SW receivers - they were very popular then. In
the mid 60's I use to listen to my parents Zenith Trans Oceanic. You needed
a license for a CB way back then - perhaps that's what you were thinking of.



I've found that old Canadian radios - say pre-1950s - frequently have a
warning label stuck to the back advising the need to purchase a license
to operate it.

Dave

I'm putting this one in the same pigeon-hole as the poster who told the
story about failing his Ham test because the VE's said he was ugly.

It's the same person.


how about this one? My radio scanner caused Taco Bell's equipment to
malfunction, and caused Taco Bell to close.

Or was it all just a weird coincidence?

I've been to the same Taco Bell before with my scanner operating on VHF lo, VHF
hi, UHF, FM broadcast, and Shortwave frequencies without anything happening.

Airplanes don't like you using a scanner because it interferes with their
equipment and they could crash into the side of a mountain.

Well, today when I went to the same Taco Bell in the afternoon, I had my
scanner on the VHF air frequencies (108 to 136 MHZ)

I left the scaner in my car and went in to eat. I did get my food order, but
before I did, the cashier told me that they were closing for about an hour
because their equipment had malfunctioned starting a few minutes ago and they
weren't able to make any more food until they got it repaired. The time he
mentioned was about the exact sam time that I pulled into Taco Bell's parking
lot with my scanner on the VHF aircraft frequencies.

Did my scanner cause Taco Bell's equipment to malfunction and close down the
entire restaurant for at least a whole hour or was it all just some sort of big
strange weird coincidence?