If you are unfamiliar with Kessler Syndrome, it's essentially the point at which the density of low-earth orbit objects, including debris, results in a cascade of collisions that isolate us from space and removes our access to orbital satellite technology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome

QuoteThe defunct USA 32 (or Farrah III) satellite, which launched in 1988, broke apart without warning on Sept. 13, around 480 miles above Earth's surface. Experts are still unsure what caused this sudden fragmentation, how many pieces it created, or how the debris might impact other nearby spacecraft.

https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/an-american-cold-war-era-spy-satellite-just-exploded-above-earth-and-nobody-knows-why

It's possible that space debris is to blame and we're already witnessing the beginning of the Kessler Syndrome event.  

Of course, US Space Force recently disclosed that it has weapons in space and shooting  a Cold War-era spy satellite would be both an interesting shot across the bow by Russia to disclose its own weapons in space or even a false flag event to further spur the Red Scare type of ideology that some leaders seem to be trying to restart, but that's as much as I will say about that given the rules.  Regardless of how it starts, a Kessler Event won't be great for anybody.

Quote from: airballrad on October 03, 2026, 08:29:48 PMI guess the good news about this one is that it can be treated if caught early and by prophylactic antibiotics for anyone who might have been exposed. It is not a new unknown pathogen that we don't know how to combat.

Quote from: NT2C on October 03, 2026, 04:40:20 PMNearly 200 Contacts Traced After Plague Death In Russian Laboratory Worker

There are also vaccines in development in multiple countries that could be prioritized and distributed rapidly if needed. 

Notably, this iteration is pneumonic plague, which is more serious than bubonic plague, but is also the more rare.  Isolation and antibiotics are typically effective if treated early enough, though it's nearly 100% fatal if left untreated.  It's not only in labs, either.  There are scattered cases pretty regularly even in the US and infections typically occur when people clean or handle rodent droppings without taking proper precautions (this is also how hantavirus infections typically occur). 

Even if this instigates an epidemic in Russia, it's not likely to become a pandemic and most countries have protocols for dealing with plague.  Contact tracing is a good thing since that helps us know who to watch for signs of spread and where containment needs to happen if it needs to happen.

This one is less concerning than the increasing numbers of locally acquired dengue fever along the US eastern seaboard at least as far north as Virginia, medicine resistant tuberculosis, uncontained ebola spread in Africa, and a few others lingering about with greater potential to spread, imo. 

ETA:  I am going to amend this slightly as I do have a mild concern with how rapidly the article claims she declined and passed away.  Infected 25 September, presented unwell and hospitalized 28 September, passed 1 October.  The article does not state if she had started prophylactic antibiotic in the moments following exposure, which should be the protocol in any lab.  If she did and still declined so rapidly, that's very concerning.  If she didn't, that was just reckless, but not concerning. 

I guess the good news about this one is that it can be treated if caught early and by prophylactic antibiotics for anyone who might have been exposed. It is not a new unknown pathogen that we don't know how to combat.

Quote from: NT2C on October 03, 2026, 04:40:20 PMNearly 200 Contacts Traced After Plague Death In Russian Laboratory Worker

Thank you for this thread! It is good to be reminded once in a while to think back over this stuff. Life can easily get in the way, but seeing someone else go through the process can be a good kick in the pants.

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 30, 2026, 09:38:55 PMThat's a wrap!

Yes.

As for where in the sequence they currently are for Region 4, KR4PIO was issued yesterday. So, hypothetically, if you were to be the next call issued, you would get KR4PIP. When they run through the KR4's it will probably be KS4XXX

These are known as 2X3 callsigns because they have 2 letters (prefix), one Region number, then 3 letters (suffix).

Incidentally, the Region numbers still matter for sequential issue, but not much else. It used to be if you were moving from one Region to another you'd need to change your callsign. That is no longer the case, and you can pick a Vanity call with a Region number outside your Region.

Quote from: Anianna on October 02, 2026, 11:01:45 PMDo I understand correctly that a group D callsign would have six characters and look like either a K or a W followed by a letter, the numeral for my region, and three more letters?

Quote from: airballrad on October 02, 2026, 09:34:36 PMhttps://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service/amateur-call-sign-systems

You would start with a sequential callsign from Group D, since Group C is exhausted. Group B is reserved for Advanced Class license holders, but those stopped being issued about 25 years ago, so that Group is not currently issued. Group A is reserved for those operators holding Amateur Extra Class licenses.

If you choose to never change it, you can keep your original callsign as long as you keep your license current. Nothing says you need to change it once you go up high enough to merit changing class (which would currently only happen upon reaching Amateur Extra. However, there are also Vanity callsigns.

Those are callsigns that were previously issued, but their former owner no longer needs them. Those were often Silent Keys (deceased hams), or those whose licensed expired, were revoked, etc. There is a whole system around seeing what callsigns would be available to you, the licensed operator, once you chose to pursue this at some point following the issue of your sequential callsign. I chose a Vanity call to replace my original sequential one around the same time I passed the exam for Amateur Extra.

Quote from: Anianna on October 01, 2026, 02:29:37 AMDo you get a whole new call sign each time you advance to a more advanced license? 

Do I understand correctly that a group D callsign would have six characters and look like either a K or a W followed by a letter, the numeral for my region, and three more letters?

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service/amateur-call-sign-systems

You would start with a sequential callsign from Group D, since Group C is exhausted. Group B is reserved for Advanced Class license holders, but those stopped being issued about 25 years ago, so that Group is not currently issued. Group A is reserved for those operators holding Amateur Extra Class licenses.

If you choose to never change it, you can keep your original callsign as long as you keep your license current. Nothing says you need to change it once you go up high enough to merit changing class (which would currently only happen upon reaching Amateur Extra. However, there are also Vanity callsigns.

Those are callsigns that were previously issued, but their former owner no longer needs them. Those were often Silent Keys (deceased hams), or those whose licensed expired, were revoked, etc. There is a whole system around seeing what callsigns would be available to you, the licensed operator, once you chose to pursue this at some point following the issue of your sequential callsign. I chose a Vanity call to replace my original sequential one around the same time I passed the exam for Amateur Extra.

Quote from: Anianna on October 01, 2026, 02:29:37 AMDo you get a whole new call sign each time you advance to a more advanced license? 

When you use a CB, MURS, FRS, or GMRS radio you can't use the radio on frequencies that are not permitted by that service or turn the power up too high because the radio's hardware and firmware won't allow it. If a radio is made for ham use, then sometimes these restrictions are not in place because a licensed amateur is expected to know and follow the rules.

For many of these services power is limited so that more people can use the service. If you use FRS channel 5, for example, someone ten miles away can likely also use that same channel without interference because the radios are not powerful enough to make that a problem.

Hams can (and many do) program their radios for frequencies assigned to other services that require a type-certified radio. It is against the rules to transmit outside amateur bands, but listening is not against the rules. Radios sold in the US market often have restrictions imposed by the manufacturer or seller to keep the FCC happy for import reasons, but many do not and even those that are restricted can usually be modified to get around the restrictions. Foreign governments can have very different rules about radio use, so radios made elsewhere are sometimes wide open (not that they are effective at all frequencies, of course).

I like to listen on a GMRS radio and have a ham radio close by. If I hear GMRS traffic and want to respond, I'm on the right radio. If I hear ham traffic on the GMRS radio that is listening for both services I turn on the ham radio and answer. This way I don't accidentally transmit the wrong traffic on the wrong band, which is one of the reasons that radios that can do both generally should not.

Big plus one to this. For family comms, it is a great option at $35 for ten years to cover the while family. It's not ham, but there is no knowledge test. No one else in my family is a ham, but with some inexpensive HTs and a local GMRS repeater antenna that is 250' up on a tower, we can talk across a wide area even if cell and internet are out. Incidentally, many GMRS radios can listen in on ham VHF and UHF frequencies.

Quote from: Skidjit on October 02, 2026, 05:54:44 PMBut if you want the whole family to start communicating right away for cheap; grab that GMRS license and a few BFs or Raddiodity HTs and start the learning there. Radio is radio and what you learn in GMRS is applicable to HAM.