WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

Interesting news.. http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2 ... /index.php

More bureacracy ?? Whatever happened to streamlining processes to save $$ !?

(or is this a GOOD thing?)

The WIA is overly bureaucratic and trying to wring every last cent out of hobbyists.

How wonderful to now having to go to the WIA for your callsign allocation and to then ACMA for your licence...!

I would've hoped the WIA would act like the Australia Post does as an agent for licence payments... Maybe I hoped too much!

Maybe somebody can correct me here but didn't the WIA do all this stuff once upon a time? I seem to remember they did when I got my NAOCP in 1978. So I've got to wonder what this callsign selection thing is. What was wrong with asking for a preferred unassigned callsign and getting it?

http://wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2009/ ... /index.php
Updated information here in including an image of the new form

robbage wrote:http://wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2009/ ... /index.php
Updated information here in including an image of the new form

"Callsign Recommendation Fee"... what the!?

Yeah, I noticed that. What next.. charging for callsigns per letter? VK6FOXTROTLIMAMIKEZULU this is VK6LIMAECHODELTA how you copy? I wonder how they justify the 100% hike in exam fees. I bet the ACCC won't be investigating.

robbage wrote:Yeah, I noticed that. What next.. charging for callsigns per letter? VK6FOXTROTLIMAMIKEZULU this is VK6LIMAECHODELTA how you copy? I wonder how they justify the 100% hike in exam fees. I bet the ACCC won't be investigating.

Read the latest AR. They give a bit of run down on why things cost as they do under the new scheme.

Blinky wrote:

robbage wrote:Yeah, I noticed that. What next.. charging for callsigns per letter? VK6FOXTROTLIMAMIKEZULU this is VK6LIMAECHODELTA how you copy? I wonder how they justify the 100% hike in exam fees. I bet the ACCC won't be investigating.

Read the latest AR. They give a bit of run down on why things cost as they do under the new scheme.

The callsign recommendation one didn't get a mention.. in fact, I cant find anywhere that it states what the cost actually is

Blinky wrote:Read the latest AR.

Who the what?

Edit: Never mind, found it

I did say a bit of a run down....and a bit it is



and for others..AR is what Amateur Radio, the WIA magazine is commonly known as.

Fastlane wrote: The callsign recommendation one didn't get a mention.. in fact, I cant find anywhere that it states what the cost actually is

It says on page 4 middle column from 2nd Feb the price of WIA examinations will be $67 and less if under 18. Probably other hidden cost also not mentioned in that artical besides the callsign recommendation.

Fastlane wrote: The callsign recommendation one didn't get a mention.. in fact, I cant find anywhere that it states what the cost actually is

The Ham College Web Site has just been updated and the "Callsign Recommendation Fee" is $5.00 if you don't nominate one and $22.60 if you wish to nominate one.

http://hamcollege.com.au/wordpress/?page_id=10

Besides the almost 100% hike in exam fees, customers are now hit with another WIA money grab...!

So much for representing amateurs... The WIA appears to have no morals or conscience when it comes to money and killing off the hobby.

vk6jrc wrote: The Ham College Web Site has just been updated and the "Callsign Recommendation Fee" is $5.00 if you don't nominate one and $22.60 if you wish to nominate one.

That's just totally outrageous. The ACMA didn't charge a different amount for you to choose your callsign or to let them choose, how are the WIA justifying this? On top of their, frankly, exorbitant membership fees, and doubling the exam costs. If these costs were real, the ACMA would have lifted their prices before now.

I'd really like to know how this work was tendered. It certainly doesn't seem to be giving value to the end users.

edit: the plot thickens. This isn't the WIA actually issuing the callsign, just them "recommending" it to the ACMA who still actually issue the call sign. Sounds like "importantisation" to me. With a price tag to boot.

On achieving a pass the WIA will issue a Certificate of Proficiency. This can be forwarded by the WIA directly to the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) for the issue of the licence provided that the candidate provides at the exam:

Interesting wording... "This can be forwarded..." so does that mean I can just pay the ransom to WIA and get my CoP then deal directly with ACMA?

robbage wrote:

On achieving a pass the WIA will issue a Certificate of Proficiency. This can be forwarded by the WIA directly to the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) for the issue of the licence provided that the candidate provides at the exam:

Interesting wording... "This can be forwarded..." so does that mean I can just pay the ransom to WIA and get my CoP then deal directly with ACMA?

If read in conjunction with paragraphs a, b & c below it, it means the WIA will send the CoP and Callsign Recommendation onto ACMA for you.

The cost increases are outside the control of volunteer organisations such as Ham College - and if you believe the WIA it is also outside of their control...!

vk6jrc wrote: The cost increases are outside the control of volunteer organisations such as Ham College

I completely understand that

vk6jrc wrote:and if you believe the WIA it is also outside of their control...!

It's not - they've set the pricing. Apparently with the ACMA's approval. I'd dearly like to know how it's justified. They claim its "full cost recovery" in which case the question is why did the ACMA manage to do it for less?

Outsourcing by .gov rarely seems to be cost effective...