10-14-2000, 02:42 AM
Popeye (popeye@seacoast.com) writes "I recvd temp lic. at Robhester NH Hamfest,inquiring FCC several times
a day,answer , "Not on our database" shouldn't it be after seven days?
thanks popeye"
AA7BQ writes:
<blockquote>
Well, Popeye, the answer is "It depends..."
For a more detailed explanation, read on.....
For starters, there's no such thing as a "temporary license", so I don't know what you mean by that.
Secondly, the amount of time it takes depends on a) what day
of the week it was sent in (things are slow on the weekends),
b) whether your application paperwork was correctly filled
out, c) whether your applications had to be mailed or FedEX'd
by the local VE team to the VEC, d) how efficient the VEC is,
e) whether the FCC's computer was working that day, and possibly
f) whether anybody in the chain lost or misplaced your application.
It can happen in less than a week but the actual time varies
wildly depending on the factors that I mentioned above. Not
knowing anything about your situation, I can only say, "Be
patient". Any other course of action will only raise your
blood pressure. Calling the FCC probably won't help since they
are pretty much hands-off these days, letting the VEC's do the
data entry. If you really want to know the straight scoop,
contact the VEC responsible for inputing your application
into the FCC's computer.
Here's how it's supposed to work:
You take your test at a Volunteer Examiner (VE) session in
your area. You are issued a certificate that says, "you passed
the test" - this is not a license.
The VE team collects all of their paperwork and sends it to
their affiliated Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) office.
There aren't too many VEC's in the country and so for most sites,
these have to be mailed or FedEX'd so some other city or state.
At the VEC office, the paperwork is examined and the VEC
officials dial up the FCC's computer and input the data.
The FCC, having received the information for you, Issues you
a callsign and a license, and schedules that your License certificate
be printed and mailed to you. (This could take from 1 to 3 days,
depending on weekends and holidays).
The FCC will post the information on their computer site
where sites like QRZ.COM will receive it on the morning of the
next business day.
Your license arrives in the mail some time later.
Now, all of that being said, and with three different teams
of people being involved, one of them the Government, what's
your bet on it all coming together in 7 days?
Fortunately, most VEC's are swift and accurate and often the
VE teams are too. The really considerate ones will take part
of the $6.75 fee and use it to pay to have your application
FedEX'd to their VEC. Others will send it by regular mail
and..... you get the idea.
What if there is a mistake on the application? Well, depending
on where it's caught, it could delay the whole thing for weeks.
Pay particular attention to every little detail on the license
form and you'll usually be in the clear.
If you're upgrading your existing license, then just don't
worry about it. It will eventually show up. If you're
applying for a new license all you can do is politely call
your VEC (not your VE team) and ask about your application.
Hope this helps,
73,
-fred, AA7BQ
a day,answer , "Not on our database" shouldn't it be after seven days?
thanks popeye"
AA7BQ writes:
<blockquote>
Well, Popeye, the answer is "It depends..."
For a more detailed explanation, read on.....
For starters, there's no such thing as a "temporary license", so I don't know what you mean by that.
Secondly, the amount of time it takes depends on a) what day
of the week it was sent in (things are slow on the weekends),
b) whether your application paperwork was correctly filled
out, c) whether your applications had to be mailed or FedEX'd
by the local VE team to the VEC, d) how efficient the VEC is,
e) whether the FCC's computer was working that day, and possibly
f) whether anybody in the chain lost or misplaced your application.
It can happen in less than a week but the actual time varies
wildly depending on the factors that I mentioned above. Not
knowing anything about your situation, I can only say, "Be
patient". Any other course of action will only raise your
blood pressure. Calling the FCC probably won't help since they
are pretty much hands-off these days, letting the VEC's do the
data entry. If you really want to know the straight scoop,
contact the VEC responsible for inputing your application
into the FCC's computer.
Here's how it's supposed to work:
You take your test at a Volunteer Examiner (VE) session in
your area. You are issued a certificate that says, "you passed
the test" - this is not a license.
The VE team collects all of their paperwork and sends it to
their affiliated Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) office.
There aren't too many VEC's in the country and so for most sites,
these have to be mailed or FedEX'd so some other city or state.
At the VEC office, the paperwork is examined and the VEC
officials dial up the FCC's computer and input the data.
The FCC, having received the information for you, Issues you
a callsign and a license, and schedules that your License certificate
be printed and mailed to you. (This could take from 1 to 3 days,
depending on weekends and holidays).
The FCC will post the information on their computer site
where sites like QRZ.COM will receive it on the morning of the
next business day.
Your license arrives in the mail some time later.
Now, all of that being said, and with three different teams
of people being involved, one of them the Government, what's
your bet on it all coming together in 7 days?
Fortunately, most VEC's are swift and accurate and often the
VE teams are too. The really considerate ones will take part
of the $6.75 fee and use it to pay to have your application
FedEX'd to their VEC. Others will send it by regular mail
and..... you get the idea.
What if there is a mistake on the application? Well, depending
on where it's caught, it could delay the whole thing for weeks.
Pay particular attention to every little detail on the license
form and you'll usually be in the clear.
If you're upgrading your existing license, then just don't
worry about it. It will eventually show up. If you're
applying for a new license all you can do is politely call
your VEC (not your VE team) and ask about your application.
Hope this helps,
73,
-fred, AA7BQ