Amateur radio licence validation at OFCOM

[g4aaw pete]

This evening I had a phone call from Dave, G4AKY.
He enquired if I'd re-validated my amateur license lately?

This is required to be done every 5 years. As his was due on the last day of this month, he kindly though he'd make sure I hadn't forgotten to do like-wise.

http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radioc...lidate-online/

After I had logged into Ofcom's site, I discovered that mine was also due on the same date. I re-validated accordingly.

I know of at least one friend who didn't validate in time, and had his licensed callsign issued to someone else. Hope this will serve as a memory jogger to other licensed forum members.

Regards
Pete

[Radio Wrangler]

There doesn't seem to be any limitation on doing it too often, so I'm thinking of re-validating annually on my birthday, so I don't forget.

David GM4ZNX

[g4aaw pete]

Yes David, that sounds like a very good plan!

[G8HQP Dave]

There was a special dispensation for people who were due to revalidate in and around the Olympics period; we got 6 years instead of 5. When I tried to do mine a few months ago I got in a mess on their website, partly because I had no hope of remembering a password over a 5 year period. I sent them an email about the mess, and they kindly revalidated for me. I always thought this method of maintaining a licence was flawed.

[G4XWDJim]

Remembering to re-validate in time is now one of the disadvantages of the 'free' license, especially if like me you're not very active.

David's suggestion of a birthday renewal is a good idea and one I think I must adopt myself.

I did actually re-validate mine very recently when I applied for the 420 kHz and 5 mHv NOVs. It's next due in 2018. Even now just two or three weeks later I can't remember exactly when, which shows the importance of linking it to an unforgettable reminder.

Jim

[g4aaw pete]

Originally Posted by G8HQP Dave

............ I always thought this method of maintaining a licence was flawed.

Yes, I agree Dave.
However, I couldn't remember my user name or password this evening, so I re-registered for a new logon & password.
The automated reply came back within 5 min. & I was able to logon & validate accordingly.
I was quite impressed!

[Peter.N.]

Didn't know you had to do it - hope I still have mine.

Peter

[Herald1360]

Where does this leave you if you feel like reactivating a G8 that lapsed around 1980? I thought you just had to provide evidence of passing the RAE (and maybe pay a fee?).

Or do they not reissue old style callsigns to others anyway?

[Dave757]

Hi,

I wouldn't think that 'G' callsigns would be reissued at all
(although this was commonly done pre WW11 !)
But if callsigns in the current sequences lapse, I suppose
they could go back into the pool, and as they are not issued
sequentially, they could be reissued.

Kind regards

Dave G0ELJ (validated!)

[dsergeant]

An old callsign can certainly be reissued to the original owner, that happens often. What is worrying about the new system is that email reminders that it is due to expire (as originally stated to happen) don't seem to be sent out and nothing is subsequently sent to the amateur telling him it has expired. There must be lots of people on the air thinking they have a licence which they don't. And talking to a friend the other day it also seems there are some who have never applied for the new free licence (either by post or online) and totally unaware that they are now operating illegally.

73 Dave G3YMC (legal till at least 2017)

[Dylan85]

Thanks for the heads up gents. I'm not too active on the bands these days due to too many other interests, but it is my intention to get back on the key one day. I would have been well peeved if my licence had expired.

TNX & 73

dylan G0UPS

[Alan Stepney]

The other time that Ofcom should be notified is when changing address. With the usual upheaval, it can be forgotten.
You then get 5 years from that date before you have to renew.

Alan (G8BLW) who has two years before needing to re-validate.

[Omegaman]

Thanks for the reminder.

I've just re-validated both my licences

They both lapsed nearly 2 years ago!! OOOPS!

No problems, all OK now.

Cheers,

[RobinBirch]

This is very timely. I saw a note in RADCOM last year going on about revalidations and having completely forgotten about it panicked.

Fortunately when I got in touch with OFCOM they did it for me and reconfirmed what the passwords are

I suspect that many people have forgotten about this.

RObin
G5HI

[Dave757]

Hi,

Yes , I should have put reallocated rather than reissued
for the G licences, You may also be able to obtain an old 'family'
licence, but this is at Ofcom's discretion.

Kind regards

Dave

[Herald1360]

Thanks for information and reassurance!

G8GVO (lapsed)

[Peter.N.]

I have tried to validate my licence but the site only seems to be giving me the option of applying for a new one, what am I doing wrong?

Peter G0HET

Indeed this is timely, mine was about to run out in April. I wonder what would happen if I hadn't, my G7 call wouldn't be re-allocated, I bet OFCOM don't monitor the amateur bands for 'fake' calls anymore.

[Sean Williams]

Callsigns are allocated for life.

There is not a situation where the callsign that is held by an amateur is reissued to an other amateur, except in the case of a family wishing for a callsign to be passed over to a friend or colleague after death.

All that happens is that the callsign goes dormant.

As for this 5 year thing, it is a real pain in the proverbial!

[John Mann]

I only recently found about about this. When OFCOM told me a few years ago that I now had a "Lifetime licence" I thought that was it.