How to RENEW your FCC Amateur Radio License

[@hymanlipschitzmd6101]

Firstly, the YL filling out the forms has a screen display where the viewer can barely see what is happening. I know this is all SECRET STUFF, but without a large, clearly visible on screen tutorial it's like hearing and seeing all this in a foreign language, and so, back to trying to figure it out without any road map. Josh's ability to help people over the 'phone is much more helpful for people new to the 2023 Renewal. I haven't renewed in 10 years. It's all different. Everything I tried to submit at first was Declined as Invalid and so I had to go through it all over and over. It would be great to have an Advocate for those who are marginal in ability, yes?

[@pacquetman]

Agree, though I got the gist of the procedure!

[@pacquetman]

Thanks for going over the procedure (though hyman's complaint about screen visibility is valid ... Ctrl + + is your friend!). It would also be helpful to include an example of a ham whose license has expired but is within the grace period ... they do exist (don't ask me how I know!).

[@1mouseman]

My Stepdad is giving up ham radio because of his frustration with the process. I am trying to help, but can’t even get past the fcc authentication process.

[@mattm.ky4gpd858]

Reach out to the local club someone there may be able to help you through the nonsense. I have done it to help another ham who did not have a computer. It was a pain. It took me three days to get everything lined up correctly once I did, that was able to pay the $35 fee and get reimbursed from the ham, it was renewed quickly.

[@geraldscott4302]

@@mattm.ky4gpd858 I got all the way up to where you pay the fee, after going around in circles for hours, then got an error message. I have no idea how to get back to where I was.

[@BlaineNay]

When one needs an eight-minute video to tell us how to renew a license, you know there is a very serious problem with the renewal process.

[@hymanlipschitzmd6101]

Blaine, the video wasn't so helpful. Perhaps Josh, acting as an Advocate has better luck. In the 'Sixties just a paper form was required, but now it's much more complicated.

[@BlaineNay]

I agree, the video wasn't helpful. Bureaucracy has become so burdensome that nothing is helpful -- except disbanding about 80% of the central government.

[@N2YTA]

All government websites suck.

[@mattm.ky4gpd858]

The FCC should eliminate the file manager website and move everything over to the CORES site. One stop shop for renewing. Either that, or just drop the $35 fee. Since it doesn’t serve, any purpose at all, since the renewal of the license is done, automatically without having to be processed by a human. It’s kind of like the The self service kiosks at grocery stores, requesting a tip.

[@HogRebel]

Yep, for sure!!!

[@JohnMarra]

This system is totally screwed. I don't see my licenses on the FCC website. I have a username associated to an FRN. Why am I not seeing my licenses? They are not expired. Leave it to the Federal Government to create a disaster like this.

[@n9wox]

I had the same problem, but then realized I was logged into CORES with my email address. Once I logged into the ULS - Universal License System with my FRN, I could see my license needing renewal. Once I went through the renewal process, I went back to CORES to process the payment.

[@BobBruns]

I always wondered what Maria looked like since I get her emails for VE stuff.

[@BAdams138]

agreed!

[@estefan2020]

1) your screen looks bury, so i can't even read what's on your screen. 2) Q where is "the license manager system" in cores, as I do not see it on my phone, so I can't get to this step. I get how to pay, though I'm perplexed how you got to "license manager" and I can not read the fuzzy screen to see where your mouse pointer is aimed at. Do you have a better screen shot of this please?

[@PMH1945]

After several frustrating hours, I finally called the 877 number twice and both times they were very helpful and I renewed on line with no trouble. Although perhaps lucky I called on a Thursday and got a person almost immediately.

[@davidstringfellow229]

What is the 877 number?

[@Milfordbeach]

"several frustrating hours" "no trouble" This was my experience as well. Associating the FRN with the CORES account didn't work for me nor my friend. I doubt it works at all.

[@skatetoexplorevideos2477]

"FRN Financial" isn't there anymore at 2:30

[@davidstringfellow229]

I found out only the Microsoft Edge browser works for the CORES site.

[@thefreese1]

No wonder it takes so long for the government to get anything done .. this is rediculous ...

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

in 1994 it took the FCC 89 days to mail me my Amateur Call License. 89 days !!!

[@thefreese1]

@@GreyGhost-r4z took them about 30 for mine .. back in 1984.... I remember.... I got Novice the mail and I was ready to do CW on 40m ... and It was Field Day ... and I wanted a Q-card for my first contact... never happened... The guy on the other end just heard QSL and thought I was saying YES and I never could get him to understand that I wanted a card .. lol ..and he was trying to send me his designator ID ... and of course I had not a clue what he was talking about.. lol

[@RBEmerson]

Where's the URL to connect to the licensing manager?? Agreed the screen res is too coarse to read the screen clearly, if it all. As of 8/2024, expect to call the FCC support center phone number on the CORES login screen to associate an FRN with a call sign. (Short version: system isn't working properly).

[@bekeycoconut9990]

Is a technician class license is the same as a foundation license in London?

[@forcefed385]

Spent hours tryin to renew its insane. Thinkin' about just retaking the test.

[@GregDavis-un5hp]

I hate this and have tried to renew. I don’t care anymore and pray that the people that put this process together are spending their final days alone

[@leonardbrinkman4410]

I can have to go through a computer in 1980 when I got my citizen band radio license, it only took a five-minute walk through and I actually got everything done and I got my CB license and just 1 month. Actually it was about 2 to 3 weeks before I got my citizen band radio license and besides that after I got it I can after he knew it anyway because this was right before they did away with the regulation for having everybody with a CB license in 81, 1981 that is. But as of right now I've had my CB radio license for 43 years as of September 22nd. And I still know it today as KBRB 6013!

[@Donald-r2v]

i was wondering if you help some trying to renewl ham radio license.ty

[@hypskool]

I found a trick to understanding the video. I slowed the playback speed down to .75 (slower) using the gear icon in the lower right of the video. Also, I kept my finger on the pause icon in the lower left corner. Or you can just click on the video as it is playing to start/stop it. And I played the video at full screen size. That helps to be able to read the forms when you pause them and get out your magnifying glass. Doing all of this in one tab on my Firefox browser and filling out the forms on another tab made this only a two hour job.

[@undrhil]

Did they change the rules for vanity call sign licenses? When I renewed my vanity call sign back in 2021, I was never charged for that than

[@BobBruns]

Yes $35 us

[@undrhil]

@@BobBruns did they change the way they collect payment on that?

[@_MasterLink_]

Yikes this renewal process should have taken no more than 5 minutes, and it turned into a 45 minute ordeal. And I worked as a PC tech and admin for over a decade. I'm shocked at how challenging that was, using DMR radios and setting them up is easier than CORES.

[@N3PHF2]

I am lost trying to renew ham license and I may just let it go, bootleg.. I have tried and tried

[@Milfordbeach]

I felt the same way. We mostly use ours for hiking so I considered just switching over to GMRS. The only reason I ended up with a renewed license was that I messaged support on the FCC website. I think I got a response the next day and viola! The associate FRN button now worked.

[@balahmay]

All that stuff at the beginning about CORES registration and associating the FRN is impossible to follow and should be redone. Go slow and explain each link that is clicked on. And make the screen appearance LEGIBLE! That first 50 seconds or so is like trying to copy 30 wpm code - not so easy for a lot of us. Plus you assume that we know what an FRN is. I bet most do not. I didn't. You could have just said it is your FCC registration number and it is on your license. I got through it in a little over an hour.

[@dezertraider]

WHY DID ARRL ALLOW THIS BUREAUCRACY TO GO THIS FAR TO BE A AMUTURE,YET DROP THE CODE..?

[@Davidjb37721]

Why is it that it’s so complicated to renew your license person renew can’t even give me it. Why don’t they make a map for the Fcc to renew your license and make it easier for the person?

[@wolfattack402000]

just a suggestion - lose the background noise, not needed.

[@bobgreenwood1066]

What is an FRN # ?

[@davidstringfellow229]

FCC Registration Number

[@timbacchus]

I thought it was $25.00 When did it go up to $35.00?

[@N2YTA]

It's been $35 ever since the fee was imposed.

[@timbacchus]

Thank you@@N2YTA

[@ku4uv]

It HAS been $35 for some time now.

[@Donald-r2v]

can josh help me.ty

[@unclezcrouty]

This is why my family chose not to renew our licenses .

[@waynethebarber1095]

sorry to say, you gave us nothing. No web address, to set up the Cores account, no place to get the frn number and more. This was just a wast of time to watch. After watching thus I feel the FCC does not us to reup our license. I am so tired of the crap that is handed us... Give us all the info we need and a way to see your video. Stop hiding thing from us. Go slow and show everything! It's been 10 years from tge last time we did this. Try helping us for a change!!!

[@tmo7734]

The process is absolutely ridiculous. Heaven help us.

[@TraceBrown]

This process is a nightmare.

[@therobonegroup6532]

WTF! I'm not sure what is worse, this video of the FCC website! Holy Crap is this the FCC way or weeding people out?

[@MrDrunion]

Gee, you skipped "creating an account, logging in and where you got the FRN" Try again:

[@josephgordon5378]

not helpful at all please make website more useful

[@Yellwolf]

I am an electrical engineer and I enjoyed this tutorial! Some think they know everything and then they find out they’re idiots. Why would you not take the time to do things right.. especially being an experimental electronic wave user.. if your not studying this or watching this post, stay away from electronics!

[@AlanMuldawer]

This video helped me a LOT! Thank you! 73 Alan N3ALN

[@TelecasterRon]

What a bunch of BS. Who ever dreamed up this Stupid Process should be in an Unemployment Line. Sadly they will be most likely promoted. Foolish!

[@WilliamGarrigan]

Good by ham radio hello ho trains

[@ku4uv]

Yeah, good luck with that. I was telling my twin brother (who is also a ham), just the other day, "If you think ham radio gets expensive and frustrating, you ain't seen nothing until you start fooling with model railroading!"

[@waynethebarber1095]

more like hello Drones... even that's going south too... 0:49

[@rcas350pilot8]

my license runs out in June 2025. I was able to create an account but that's as far as I was able to get. I made a decision; I will quit the hobby before I deal any further with that worthless POS fcc website. If they can't get it right, take the f@@in stupid thing down. Not worth getting my blood pressure soring .

[@davidstringfellow229]

Renewals are possible starting 90 days prior to expiration of the license.