• FAQ

    Access to the examination room is only granted upon presentation of your ID card.

    • The VHF examination consists of 20 multiple choice questions about the subject matter covered by the preparation manual for the examination to obtain the radiotelephone operator’s restricted certificate. To pass the exam one has to score 60%. No exemptions are granted on the subject matter.
      If you wish a printed version of the VHF manual, please transfer €5 on the account IBAN BE68 6791 7078 16 34 (BIC: PCHQBEBB) with the communication “VHF Manual” and send a copy of the proof of payment per e-mail to maritime@ibpt.be.
    • The SRC examination consists of 33 multiple choice questions (23 SRC and 10 VHF) about the subject matters covered by the examination programme. To pass the exam one has to score 60% for each subject matter. No exemptions are granted on subject matters.

  • FAQ

    Firstly this 

    You can decide to have your number ported immediately or to have it done on a date you agree upon with the new operator.  

    Setting a date can be important if you are still bound by a contract or if there are instalments left on a device. Without an agreement on the porting date you risk having to pay a termination fee to your old operator. 

    One working day  

    Following a visit to your new operator’s store or website or before the porting date set, the new operator checks with the old operator whether everything is technically ready to port the number.  

    After the technical validation the number porting takes one working day at the most.  

    What if there is a delay?  

    If the porting exceeds one working day compared to the date set, you are entitled to a compensation of 3 euros per day of delay. Sometimes the amount is set to 5 euros per day of delay. 

    Always ask your new operator for this compensation. Even though you know or suspect that the problem lies with the old operator.  

    Do this within 6 months following the number porting. 

    In the case of prepaid cards a compensation can be given in the form of extra call credit.  

  • FAQ

    Yes, this system is subject to an authorisation issued by BIPT and must therefore be added to your application for a station authorisation.

  • FAQ

    No, a PLB is related to a person not to a vessel.

    However, you have to register your PLB on the website https://www.406registration.com/

  • FAQ

    Fixed-term or permanent? 

    Check whether you have a permanent contract or not: this is also specified on your invoice.

    An operator is not allowed to charge anything for the termination of a contract

    • If you have a permanent contract;
    • If your fixed-term contract started at least six months ago.

     

    You have acquired a device by way of a conditional sale?

    Good to know: If you have acquired a free or bargain price device (e.g. a mobile phone or a tablet) from your operator, he can demand an extra compensation. Even if you have signed a permanent contract. Or if you do not cancel the contract before six months have passed.  

    hat extra compensation must not exceed the value stated in a repayment table annexed to the contract. 

    If you look in that table at the month you are in you can see what extra compensation is due.

    After 24 months an operator is not allowed to charge any compensation for the device anymore. 

    More info:

    The basis of the calculation that the operator should have made for you is a monthly depreciation of the device. Each month, until month 24 the same amount should be subtracted from the residual value of that device. 

    We illustrate this below in case of a permanent contract.

    You have entered into a permanent contract. When you signed the contract, you “bought” the device for € 1.

    The repayment table annexed to the contract is shown below:

    Month Residual value Month Residual value
    0 € 240 13 € 110
    1 € 230 14 € 100
    2 € 220 15 € 90
    3 € 210 16 € 80
    4 € 200 17 € 70
    5 € 190 18 € 60
    6 € 180 19 € 50
    7 € 170 20 € 40
    8 € 160 21 € 30
    9 € 150 22 € 20
    10 € 140 23 € 10
    11 € 130 24 € 0
    12      

    You decide to terminate the contract after 8 months: the operator can then ask a compensation of € 160.

    In case of a fixed-term contract your operator has to compare the device's residual value calculated as mentioned above with the remaining subscription fees until the end of the contract (for consumers this does not exceed 2 years).

    If this balance of subscription fees is lower than the value obtained through the monthly depreciation, the operator may charge only the remaining subscription fees and not the entire residual value of the device.

     

    Use of Easy Switch

    Please use the Easy Switch procedure if you want to switch bundles completely.

    The new operator will handle the entire transfer for you!

  • FAQ

    Yes, and it must be registered on 406registration.com.

    BIPT advises you to buy an EPIRB that is MEOSAR compatible.

  • FAQ

    Congratulations! You were given a form at the end of your exam. Your first operator’s certificate is included in the price of the exam.

    Now, you will have to choose a call sign.

    If you have your own equipment, you will also need a station authorisation for it.

    Attention: you must first have your operator’s certificate and/or authorisation before being allowed to emit and/or possess radio equipment.

  • FAQ

    Congratulations! You will receive your certificate via ordinary mail.

  • FAQ

    You must send us your station authorisation back so that we can deactivate it and so that your vessel can be deleted from international databases.

    Please send it to:

    BIPT
    Maritime Department
    Ellipse Building C
    Boulevard du Roi Albert II 35 Box 1
    1030 Brussels (Belgium)

  • FAQ

    Whoever unexpectedly acquires a station, without being personally authorised to possess or use it, has, from the moment he/she comes into possession of the station, a maximum period of sixty days to apply for a holder’s and operator’s authorisation for that radio station, or only one possession authorisation.

Back to top