Memphis_Chung
Well-Known Member
Am I the only one who cant make the online application for a radio licence work? After 30 minutes I am giving up! I fancy myself as reasonably net-savvy but this site has left me flumuxed.
Tom
Tom
Ofcom website
- Thread starter Memphis_Chung
- Start date
VicS
Well-Known Member
I'm still waiting for my log on ID ! When did you get yours?
FWB
N/A
Must say I'm confused by this too. I had to give them a username then make up a password--must be so long with a capital and number etc--then they said they would send me a username and password by snail mail. Did I imagine this? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Memphis_Chung
Well-Known Member
I got my username through the post on Friday. Having a paper element did strike me as slightly defeating the object of an online registration! That was the easy bit. The site is not intuitive and it takes some time to get to the right place. Once I worked out what licence I need, I registered all my info but then found I had "run out of road" and it is not apparent how to complete the thing. Numerous error messages dont help either!
That's the public sector for you!
That's the public sector for you!
VicS
Well-Known Member
I even got timed out the first time I tried to register!
I reckon they have had to put a postal element into the system as a check on your identity and address.
I'm looking forwaed to giving it a try but I expect I will have to revert to a postal application (& a £20 fee) because I previously had a licence which I allowed to lapse several years ago when the boat was not in use. At least I anticipate that will happen if i declare the old callsign as I guess that will be considered to be "reactivating a callsign".
SBC will be dancing with glee when he reads of your experiences and saying "I told you so etc,etc."
Don't even bother to post it Nigel we can hear you without!
I reckon they have had to put a postal element into the system as a check on your identity and address.
I'm looking forwaed to giving it a try but I expect I will have to revert to a postal application (& a £20 fee) because I previously had a licence which I allowed to lapse several years ago when the boat was not in use. At least I anticipate that will happen if i declare the old callsign as I guess that will be considered to be "reactivating a callsign".
SBC will be dancing with glee when he reads of your experiences and saying "I told you so etc,etc."
Don't even bother to post it Nigel we can hear you without!
G
Guest
Guest
I\'m not happy at all actually about it ....
I think the whole thing is a shambles.
I've just coughed up the £20 ... Now the Ofcom guy dealing with it has been really good ... e-mailing back and forth on all sorts and trying to answer some of the questions. I asked him one and then decided to telephone him. Really nice guy. The question was - would it be better for me to just apply for new and accept new call-sign etc. His answer - Actually yes - but I'm not supposed to advise you that because officially it's not allowed. When you make the application for new it is possible the database will trigger on your name or boats name as previously licenced ... He wondered if then any application would be difficult to complete........ as technically I would be flouting the system.
In the end I coughed up.
It's funny ... well actually not ! ..... but even he said its strange that people who have supported the system by paying each year before are now expected to cough up £20 ... if renewal lapse or pre Oct.1 etc. - but anyone who is new and has never paid / supported previously pays Zero. Seems wrong way round.
Anyway - honest I am not dancing with glee ... far from it.
What should have been a simple web-site exercise for any reasonable site-author etc. has actually been a disaster.
I think the whole thing is a shambles.
I've just coughed up the £20 ... Now the Ofcom guy dealing with it has been really good ... e-mailing back and forth on all sorts and trying to answer some of the questions. I asked him one and then decided to telephone him. Really nice guy. The question was - would it be better for me to just apply for new and accept new call-sign etc. His answer - Actually yes - but I'm not supposed to advise you that because officially it's not allowed. When you make the application for new it is possible the database will trigger on your name or boats name as previously licenced ... He wondered if then any application would be difficult to complete........ as technically I would be flouting the system.
In the end I coughed up.
It's funny ... well actually not ! ..... but even he said its strange that people who have supported the system by paying each year before are now expected to cough up £20 ... if renewal lapse or pre Oct.1 etc. - but anyone who is new and has never paid / supported previously pays Zero. Seems wrong way round.
Anyway - honest I am not dancing with glee ... far from it.
What should have been a simple web-site exercise for any reasonable site-author etc. has actually been a disaster.
gandy
Well-Known Member
Re: I\'m not happy at all actually about it ....
Shouldn't you be getting a Latvian licence? Or is it UK 'cos the boat's UK flagged?
Still waiting for my online login details though the post. I was going to apply for a portable licence just for the hell of it, so my hand-held can be independent of the main vessel.
Shouldn't you be getting a Latvian licence? Or is it UK 'cos the boat's UK flagged?
Still waiting for my online login details though the post. I was going to apply for a portable licence just for the hell of it, so my hand-held can be independent of the main vessel.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Re: I\'m not happy at all actually about it ....
[ QUOTE ]
When you make the application for new it is possible the database will trigger on your name or boats name as previously licenced ... He wondered if then any application would be difficult to complete.
[/ QUOTE ] In your case that would have been very likely as you and your boat are still on the database together with MXCP9 as your callsign. In fact it would be a pretty naff system if it did not pick you out as someone who owed £20. Maybe if it is as big a shambles as you think it would not have done! Pity you were not able to wait until after 1 Dec to put the on-line system to the test.
As soon as I get my log in ID I'll be trying it out. My name etc have long since vanished from the ITU/Mars database so I might be in with a chance. If I don't succeed then I shall wait until there is a reasonable chance that I will get the boat afloat again.
[ QUOTE ]
When you make the application for new it is possible the database will trigger on your name or boats name as previously licenced ... He wondered if then any application would be difficult to complete.
[/ QUOTE ] In your case that would have been very likely as you and your boat are still on the database together with MXCP9 as your callsign. In fact it would be a pretty naff system if it did not pick you out as someone who owed £20. Maybe if it is as big a shambles as you think it would not have done! Pity you were not able to wait until after 1 Dec to put the on-line system to the test.
As soon as I get my log in ID I'll be trying it out. My name etc have long since vanished from the ITU/Mars database so I might be in with a chance. If I don't succeed then I shall wait until there is a reasonable chance that I will get the boat afloat again.
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
Re: And the RYA site is not much better.....
Went to join the RYA Friday, because need to renew the ICC and it's cheaper to do it that way. Apart from being abysmally slow, the site refused to let me join because it could not recognise my postcode (which every other site I've ever used can .... tried every conceivable permutation of case, spaces, etc). Eventually found how to enter address manually. Payment processed and was promised a confirmation email. NOTHING .... but I guess it's the weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Vic
Went to join the RYA Friday, because need to renew the ICC and it's cheaper to do it that way. Apart from being abysmally slow, the site refused to let me join because it could not recognise my postcode (which every other site I've ever used can .... tried every conceivable permutation of case, spaces, etc). Eventually found how to enter address manually. Payment processed and was promised a confirmation email. NOTHING .... but I guess it's the weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Vic
G
Guest
Guest
She\'s UK SSR ....
so it's UK licence ... to get local Latvian would be real hassle..... unless I dipped hand in pocket.
Which would also mean re-register boat to Latvian - cause Latvian Call Sign is for Lat registered boats etc.
Unlike UK SSR .... they are serious here about safety regs etc. They have a list of items that must be on boat before they inspect. If you carried it all - there wouldn't be much room for the beer. So many boats juggle gear between each other when inspectors come a looking !!
so it's UK licence ... to get local Latvian would be real hassle..... unless I dipped hand in pocket.
Which would also mean re-register boat to Latvian - cause Latvian Call Sign is for Lat registered boats etc.
Unlike UK SSR .... they are serious here about safety regs etc. They have a list of items that must be on boat before they inspect. If you carried it all - there wouldn't be much room for the beer. So many boats juggle gear between each other when inspectors come a looking !!
G
Guest
Guest
He reckoned I should try ....
As my renewal ran over the Dec 1 dateline ... he asked if I preferred to take new ... that is why we had a chat about it. The comments I posted here. He reckoned it was a chance that the trigger would activate ... but as he said no doubt there will be plenty people trying it ... Officially the conversation wasn't held - funny as the tel calls are recorded I believe !!
As my renewal ran over the Dec 1 dateline ... he asked if I preferred to take new ... that is why we had a chat about it. The comments I posted here. He reckoned it was a chance that the trigger would activate ... but as he said no doubt there will be plenty people trying it ... Officially the conversation wasn't held - funny as the tel calls are recorded I believe !!