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Author Topic: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity  (Read 882 times)

N3NUE

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #15 on: January 15, 2023, 05:57:16 AM »

AC2EU,

I redid my info right on the phone with the gal from the FCC, including passsword. She said I was squared away but the system didn't take it the next day, so back to Step 1 on Tuesday with a phone call....

73,

John
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W6BP

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2023, 09:39:25 AM »

AC2EU,

I redid my info right on the phone with the gal from the FCC, including passsword. She said I was squared away but the system didn't take it the next day, so back to Step 1 on Tuesday with a phone call....

73,

John

If I've been reading this correctly, you had your conversation with the FCC on Friday; the "next day" was Saturday, and I don't think the FCC does updates on the weekend (I'm not 100% sure about that). Before you make the phone call on Tuesday, check the FCC database again.
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W6BP

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2023, 10:12:10 AM »

As of this morning (1/17), the FCC database shows a pending renewal application for N9SKN:

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=762822

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N3NUE

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2023, 04:53:30 PM »

Follow-up

Spoke to FCC rep today. Evidently they decided to list my security question answer to all lower case without telling me, and they apologized. So THAT's taken care of. Then I tried to pay while on the phone with the rep but they were having problems taking online payments this morning. Was told to wait a few days. So I'm off the air for a bit. LOL! Should have renewed sooner, but the rest of the ham community will just have to survive without me for awhile, HI HI..........
73,
John
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LNXAUTHOR

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #19 on: February 16, 2023, 03:14:35 PM »

just went through the renewal process - what a PITA... first off, the new CORES2 required me to assoicate my FRN with a new username/password pair - but wouldn't let me do that without entering the zipcode from my residence where i lived when first licensed 20 years ago (despite updating my license info with new homes twice since then)...

next, renewing my license was another royal pain - why? because unless you go in, fill out the application for renewal, and *then* go back in and grant yourself authority to pay the license fee for your FRN, the link to pay the renewal fee remains hidden on the FCC site... took me a day or so to figure that out (and i'm quite familiar with computers, software, etc.)

here's the kicker: after paying the renewal fee, the receipt generated by the FCC site has my address info FROM WHEN I WAS LICENSED 20+ YEARS AGO!!!!

sheesh! to anyone facing renewal in the near future: take your time, have some patience, and good luck...
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AC2EU

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #20 on: February 16, 2023, 03:40:55 PM »

just went through the renewal process - what a PITA... first off, the new CORES2 required me to assoicate my FRN with a new username/password pair - but wouldn't let me do that without entering the zipcode from my residence where i lived when first licensed 20 years ago (despite updating my license info with new homes twice since then)...

next, renewing my license was another royal pain - why? because unless you go in, fill out the application for renewal, and *then* go back in and grant yourself authority to pay the license fee for your FRN, the link to pay the renewal fee remains hidden on the FCC site... took me a day or so to figure that out (and i'm quite familiar with computers, software, etc.)

here's the kicker: after paying the renewal fee, the receipt generated by the FCC site has my address info FROM WHEN I WAS LICENSED 20+ YEARS AGO!!!!

sheesh! to anyone facing renewal in the near future: take your time, have some patience, and good luck...

Did you ever see those TV commercials for computer careers?
It's like "yesterday I couldn't spell programmer...now I is one!"

Good enough for government work...

SWMAN

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #21 on: February 16, 2023, 07:46:07 PM »

 If you are an ARRL just call them and they will do all of the renewal work for you. Too easy. Took me 5 minutes.
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N2EY

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #22 on: February 28, 2023, 08:25:42 AM »

If you are an ARRL just call them and they will do all of the renewal work for you. Too easy. Took me 5 minutes.

When did you renew?

I ask because ARRL and other third-party folks can't do the payment part.
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SWMAN

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #23 on: February 28, 2023, 08:31:59 AM »

Hi Jim,
 I renewed with the ARRL’s help back in April of 2021. Not sure but maybe they don’t do it anymore. I’m sure I paid through them also. Good luck.
73. Jim. W5JJG
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N2EY

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2023, 10:22:41 AM »

Hi Jim,
 I renewed with the ARRL’s help back in April of 2021. Not sure but maybe they don’t do it anymore. I’m sure I paid through them also. Good luck.

Hello Jim,

They didn't impose the fees until 2022. Since the imposition of fees, ARRL and W5YI can't do renewals for hams because of the way FCC has set up the fee system.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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SWMAN

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #25 on: March 02, 2023, 11:12:23 AM »

 Thanks for the info Jim, I have about 8 years to go. Maybe they will change it AGAIN before then, you never know.

73. Jim. W5JJG
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N2EY

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #26 on: March 25, 2023, 10:07:48 AM »

Thanks for the info Jim, I have about 8 years to go. Maybe they will change it AGAIN before then, you never know.

Yes, quite possible.

I've only got 11 months left on my license. My various usernames and passwords are current and are written down, I'll figure out the rest before the renewal window opens and renew as soon as possible.

Which reminds me of a few things....

- The "renewal-before-expiration window" is only the last 90 days before the license expires. But the grace period for renewal after expiration is 2 years! Seems odd that the one is so short and the other so long. As I recall, back when license terms were 5 years, the "renewal-before-expiration window" was the last 90 days before the license expired but the grace period for renewal after expiration was 1 year.

- Since the grace period is so long, it may be that some folks who are inactive are waiting till near the end of the grace period to renew. One reason would be to save a few $$, another in the hope that the process is simplified.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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W3HF

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #27 on: April 01, 2023, 10:36:19 AM »

[
- Since the grace period is so long, it may be that some folks who are inactive are waiting till near the end of the grace period to renew. One reason would be to save a few $$, another in the hope that the process is simplified.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Jim -

I don't know if a "renewal within grace" creates a new ten-year term or just picks up where the old one left off. If it's the latter, then there are no $$ to be saved. Then again, I would hope the license record would show (somehow) that the license actually was NOT valid during the grace period, for later reference in case of enforcement issues.

In any case, I'll be able to run a test soon. My son's license expired this past week. He's not active, but wants to retain it for the future "just in case." And rather than walk him through the new process remotely, we'll sit next to each other and do it together in a few weeks. We'll see what his new term is.

Steve
W3HF
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WA2ONH

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #28 on: April 01, 2023, 11:47:53 AM »

Alway reading the mail when this "renewal" topic comes up.

My ticket expires in April 2026 so I hope by than the FCC asked Amazon for help in
processing credit card payments?

Here's one very detailed write up I came across by W0IS.Com on
How to Renew Your Amateur Radio License
https://w0is.com/LicenseRenewal/FCCRenewalInstructions.htm

I suggest everyone make a PDF file copy of it and read thru it before attempting  the actual FCC update online. Thank you W0IS for your efforts! My saved copy is 20-pages of text and screen prints with 1,849 kb file size.

Good luck in dealing with that process that's "good enough for government work"
.
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73 de WA2ONH  <dit dit> ... Charlie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never be satisfied with what you know, only with what more you can find out."
   Dr David Fairchild 1869-1954 US Scientist

K0IZ

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Re: FCC ULS FRN Renewal Insanity
« Reply #29 on: Today at 04:29:35 PM »

I renewed without problems.  Used the FRN on my license.  Paid my $35.  Was confirmed next day.  Extended from date of expiration so no penalty for renewing a bit early (up to 90 days).
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