Yeah, I know, but it's still funny...

[230RN]

I'm renewing my Amateur Radio Service (HAM) license.

There are new procedures (to me, anyhow) because of the Universal Licensing System (ULS).

So I get online.  So here's what I see:

To learn more on how to begin filing through ULS, see the overview for  New Users.
 
While electronic filing is strongly encouraged, you may still file some forms manually if Internet access is limited or unavailable to you. To obtain forms, you can:
•Download the forms from the FCC site.
•....
•....

Not worth a but still worth a   .

Terry

REF:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/index.htm?job=online_filing

[Hawkmoon]

Your tax dollars at work.

I have encountered that one on more than one occasion. When my ISP was AT&T, buried on their web site was the helpful instruction that if your internet didn't work you could contact technical support on-line ...

[K Frame]

It's a blanket statement that covers all possibilities -- those with internet service, those with limited, and those with none.

And, obviously, if someone is reading this information on the internet (public library, maybe?), they have internet access and can download the forms and likely print them to file them manually.

[just Warren]

[Devonai]

Warren, Steam used to do that, too.  Several years ago my internet was out, with a service tech set to come fix it in five days.  So I figured I'd boot up Call of Pripyat (purchased on Steam) for some single-player goodness.  But I had to be logged in to log out.   

Fortunately Steam must have heeded my complaints and a dearth of others, because they now allow you to "start in offline mode." 

[AJ Dual]

The FCC should let you renew over PSK31...

[230RN]

@Mike Irwin:
"Yeah, I know, but it's still funny..."

The FCC should let you renew over PSK31...

Hey, my latest emission mode was spark-gap.  

https://youtu.be/s8EgTyzG1gI

"We doan need no steenkin' spectral purity !"

Oh, it's not going to be a problem except it's priority 8.0 now, what with, coincidentally, a bunch of other things expiring or due again this year and all in Jan-Feb.  Like Driver's license, emissions test on vehicle, etc, etc, etc.  I started to get going on the ham stuff first thing because I thought it would be semiautomatic, as it had been in previous years:

"Hey, renew me, FCC."  "OK, there you go, Terry."

But it wasn't as "automatic" any more, so I put it off.  Just wanted to "get it off my desk" first thing, was all.

Terry.

[Hawkmoon]

Just wanted to "get it off my desk" first thing, was all.

That's what waste baskets are for.

[RoadKingLarry]

Hey, my latest emission mode was spark-gap. 

My latest emission mode was air-gas, if there had been a spark nearby I'd have been in trouble

[230RN]

^ FAE

https://youtu.be/GmRASCHJe2Q

[230RN]

Well, I tried renewing my ham ticket on line, using my crystal ball to guess what the FCC wanted to know in their on-line renewal process and "Well, I'll be damned," it actually worked.  I just checked QRZ.COM and it showed an expiration date in 2028 !

Woo Hoo !

Renewed without going through the commercial renewal service for ~$8.00 (where a private individual wants all your personal data) or having to join ARRL for ~$40 (?) to have them renew it for you.

I think all the BS about the difficulty in renewing "on your own" was just that, BS. The "biggest" problem was figuring out what they meant by FCC registration number, of which I had never heard.  Of.  Before.

Terry, OT, 230RN, first licensed in 1975, I think.  (When bottles of hot vacuum were all the rage.)

[rcnixon]

I'm renewing my Amateur Radio Service (HAM) license.

There are new procedures (to me, anyhow) because of the Universal Licensing System (ULS).

So I get online.  So here's what I see:


Not worth a but still worth a   .

Terry

REF:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/index.htm?job=online_filing

Your local VE team should have the forms and will file yours with the test passers. On the other hand, I filed on the ULS system on Sunday and received my renewed license in Tuesday morning's e-mail. I did have to recover my password, took about five minutes.

[230RN]

Well, maybe I do have a problem.  I renewed on line with only a slight hitch, saw that I was renewed on QRZ. com, but I did not yield up my e-mail address to the FCC.  I note that one of you got your renewed license by e-mail, but since I did not enter an e-mail address, I expected to get my ticket in the snail mail.

But noooooo.

Not yet.

Anyone got a clue as to how long it takes to snail mail a physical license?

Terry

[MikeB]

I don't recall exactly but would guess last time I did a renewal or maybe it was a ticket upgrade in class, it was a few weeks for the physical piece of paper to arrive in the mail.

[230RN]

OK, thanks.  I guess I'll be patient.  In the meantime I printed out my renewed info from QRZED and folded it in with my expired ticket that I keep in my wallet.