XM Satellite Radio, your country needs you!

This is a good idea. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, ham radio operators played an important communications role. Cell phones are great, but they can't be the only technology we depend upon.

I'm shocked that the military doesn't already have satellites for this type of communication. With all those spy satellites you would have thought launching a radio transmitter on one would have been child splay.

I'm sure they do - this is more focused on Homeland security issues - allowing the military to easily contact emergency personnel and first responders; folks who may not be tied directly into the normal military communication lines.

So this is the "civilian" version that will not need all the military hardware and code conversion. That makes sense. Also in an emergency any one with an XM radio will want to know what is going on. At least I would.

Again, I think its a dedicated channel that would only be available to / accessible by the military and first responders. You'd want that channel clear of civilian interference.

How can a passive receiver create interference? Or are you talking about people rushing to the scene and causing disruptions?

The latter. Additionally open broadcasts could be intercepted by terrorists (should that be the type of Homeland Security situation) who could use the info to gum up the works.

On a related note, even un-activated XM Radios receive their Emergency Broadcast station, XM247 (as in 24-7 coverage). As XM puts it, this channel's used for "providing critical, updated information before, during and after natural disasters, weather emergencies and other hazardous incidents to listeners across the country.

Utilizing XM's nationwide broadcast system, XM Emergency Alert delivers key survival information such as evacuation routes, shelter locations, critical health and medical information, and updated weather emergency information for impacted areas. XM Emergency Alert provides data drawn from a variety of sources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Weather Service, police and fire departments, and local eyewitness reports."

Some more recent info on this front:

On September 12, 2006, XM filed the most comprehensive document yet on its current and planned emergency alert system plans. If you are interested at all in XM's Emergency Alert System, this is a must read document. Satellite Radio TechWorld is still evaluating the contents, but here are some of the more interesting comments:

"By early 2007, XM is planning to provide in its second-generation XM2Go receivers (such as the Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix) the ability to enable subscribers to choose to be alerted when a state or local EAS alert is being transmitted over an Instant Traffic, Weather & Alert channel." It will use the tune select feature.
XM is still working on crank and battery powered receivers.
XM is currently working with FEMA to upgrade the EAS distribution structure. By the end of 2006/early 2007, XM plans to provide a "communications vehicle" for Presidental Level EAS messsages to XM customized receivers at approximately 100 sites.

"XM also envisions becoming a primary backbone for delivery of the Presidential Level EAS message, not just to the PEPs, but to all participants in the EAS."
Sounds like XM is really stepping up to the plate on public safety.

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6518462367