Fighting for Ham Radio: Customs, Bureaucratic Hurdles to High Fees

•  The Journey to Obtain the Prized Yaesu FT-891 Transceiver!

Unveiling the Saga of Triumph: A Ham Radio Enthusiast's Battle with Bureaucracy, Triumph over Trials, and the Price of Pursuing Passion. Join the journey from import challenges to a triumphant connection in the world of ham radio.

As I held the Yaesu FT891 in my hands, I couldn't believe that I had finally laid hands on my most prized possession. For months, I had researched and yearned for this rig, and now it was mine. But little did I know that my journey was far from over.

My shipment arrived in India, only to be held up by the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi customs for a staggering 25 days. I was devastated. I had done everything by the book, yet the bureaucracy threatened to take away my most beloved possession.

Despite submitting every document required, from the online purchase order to my Amateur Radio licence issued by the government of India, Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications, WPC Wing, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, and even the brochure of the Yaesu FT-891 transceiver, nothing seemed to appease the bureaucracy. Over sixty emails were exchanged with DHL's logistics customs handling agent (CHA) at IGI Airport, but each clarification led to new issues and the stalemate seemed never-ending. Suddenly, I felt like a criminal.

Despite reaching out to anyone who could offer assistance, I found myself trapped in an endless nightmare with no concrete solutions in sight. Due to my circumstances, I couldn't even travel to see my family, and on December 29, 2022, I had to call off a meeting with an ex-colleague, Anjali, at Blue Tokai in Greater Kailash-1, leaving me with a feeling of disappointment. The period between Christmas and the third week of January 2023 was a particularly difficult time for me. As the days turned into weeks, my despair only grew, and at one point, I feared that I would never get my beloved rig back.

In my anguish, I created a parody video, hoping to find some solace. To my surprise, it caught the attention of a few well-wishers who were moved by my plight and tried to help. One of them was Padmashree Dr. Manas Choudhary, a renowned senior journalist, who called up one of his known regional commissioners of customs to exert pressure on his counterpart at IGI Airport for the release of my consignment. Dr. Choudhary followed up on the progress until my FT-891 was finally released. Meanwhile, a senior radio Amateur, Rajni Mohan, (VU2HW) connected me to a logistic agency and arranged a conference call with another ham who imported goods from around the world, helping me to understand the duty fee and the way forward.

Overwhelmed by the kindness of Jonathan, an ex-Border Security Force commissioned officer, Sankar, an airlines pilot, Ronmoy Das, former IT commissioner, Major General Daljeet Singh of Border Security Force, B. R. Rana, DGP and Mrs Dhanalakshmi Ayier, I finally saw a glimmer of hope.

It is absolutely astounding to see that the Indian market is flooded with goods, ranging from electronics and electrical appliances to watches, mostly imported from China and a few other South Asian countries. In Delhi's famous Chandni Chowk, one can witness countless cartons of cheap, China-made goods being transported in broad daylight by various business establishments. 

This is in stark contrast to the experience of individuals who legally import items from highly respected countries, who are thrown into a treacherous journey, fraught with unnecessary difficulties and obstacles. Such a lopsided policy needs to change, and it falls upon the ham radio licensing authority in India alias, WPC (Wireless Planning & Coordination) Wing, DoT, Ministry of Communicationton, New Delhi take up this matter with the concerned department and prevent radio amateurs importing rigs from being harassed and subjected to exorbitant duty fees.

The Former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi (VU2RG), was an unwavering

champion for amateur radio in India and relentlessly pursued the reduction of import tariffs for ham equipment. Despite this, numerous seasoned veterans and senior hams, who were acquainted with Gandhi during his tenure, assert that his noble intentions were tarnished by unscrupulous organizations that imported transceivers and ham equipment in bulk, stockpiled them, and subsequently sold them at exorbitant prices. 

Unfortunately, following RG's passing, his spouse Sonia Gandhi (VU2SON), daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadhra (VU2PGY), and Bollywood superstar friend Amitabh Bachchan (VU2AMY) did not appear to make any notable efforts towards promoting ham radio.

It is worth noting that India does not manufacture any transceivers or ham equipment. Certain hams who have been building various antennas, linear amplifiers, and low power rigs are primarily dependent on crucial electronic items imported from China. Unfortunately, their work has been impacted as imports have been restricted, leading to a shortage of essential electronic components.

Further, it's worth noting that while the United States maintains that China is not a friend, Americans have access to a wide range of electronics and other products manufactured in China. Similarly, despite strained relations between Japan and China, high-end electronics designed by Japanese companies are produced in Chinese factories. Despite hostility between Taiwan and China, it is interesting to observe that Taiwan has recently sent a critical component of its anti-ship missile to China for repair. 

In contrast, India's relationship with China soured following the Galwan clash, resulting in a blanket ban on all imports and the government's push to promote local manufacturing or "made in India" products. Unfortunately, these locally made products cannot always match the quality or availability of imported goods, forcing Indians seeking specific equipment to route their import through the US, Singapore or a third country.

In today's age of widespread internet access and transparency, imposing a complete ban on imports in order to promote local artisans and manufacturing seems unreasonable. Instead, allowing the import of foreign goods can facilitate healthy competition amongst local manufacturers, ultimately leading to improvements in their products.

During the ordeal, the customs officials objected to my 'gift' invoice, demanding an exorbitant 75% duty fee. However, I fought back and proved with documents that it was a legally purchased item, which compelled them to lower the fee. Their tax calculations were bewildering to an ordinary citizen, but I persisted.

The total cost of the rig included free shipment, but strangely DHL charged for local delivery in addition to demurrage and other taxes. This made me wonder why the responses to my emails were often delayed and why it was difficult to reach their CHAs over the phone. It's possible that this is some kind of ploy to fleece customers, which should be investigated by a regulatory authority.

Finally, I was left with no choice but to cough up a significant amount of money just to get my hands on the rig. And to add insult to injury, the total cost of the FT891 was almost equivalent to that of a high-end HF base station in the US - a bitter pill to swallow. 

Perhaps, this is the price one has to pay for living far away from the US. Americans may not realize how fortunate they are as they often pay much less than we do, sometimes even half the price. Nevertheless, the FT-891 has a fantastic form factor that suits my lifestyle. It can function as a home base station or be carried as a manpack.

But I wasn't going to give up. I had come too far to let the customs officials take away my dream. In India, finding transceivers and accessories of one's choice can be a nightmare, despite the presence of importers of Yaesu, ICom, and Kenwood. For almost a year, I enquired about the FT891, but unfortunately, it was never brought in, which compelled me to purchase it online from a vendor in Japan. But my shipment came with a Japanese manual, leaving me stranded and frustrated as I struggled to figure out the settings. However, a fellow ham shared a website link where I could download an English version of the manual, which saved me.

Despite all the hardships, I soldiered on. I finally received my prized possession, but the ordeal had left me traumatized. I advised fellow radio enthusiasts to be cautious and refrain from buying high-value equipment from foreign countries.

As I sat with my new FT891, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. But the price I paid was steep, and I hoped my rig would perform flawlessly. With no warranty in India, I was left with no choice but to trust in my rig's durability and reliability.

For now, I had put aside my FT891 and sought refuge from my struggles. But the passion for ham radio burned bright in my heart, and I knew that no obstacle could

stop me from pursuing my dreams.

As I powered on the rig, I felt a rush of excitement. The anticipation of making my first contact was almost too much to bear. And when the static cleared, I heard a voice. It was faint at first, but it grew louder and clearer with each passing second. I had made my first contact, and it was a feeling like no other.

In that moment, all the struggles and hardships were worth it. The Yaesu FT891 was not just a radio - it was a symbol of my passion and dedication. And as I continued to make contacts, I knew that I was part of a community that shared that same passion.

 de VU3TQT

                                                        --------------------

                                  Below are two videos related to the article:

                            The Parody after IGI Airport customs seized my FT891

                            First look of my Yaesu FT891 HF/50MHz transceiver

Consider Following/Subscribing to this TimesView Blogspot.com