He said a new radio system had already improved communications.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Criticism over Red Caps' deaths

Patriot missile components including advanced radar waveguides, microwave devices, high-speed analog to digital converters, microprocessors, precision gimbals for the missile-seeker system, highly miniaturized radio frequency communications, on-board sensors, advanced signal-processing systems.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center's Bryen Blows Whistle on Tech Transfer Fiasco

The government plans to expand a fully-featured system to provide alerts via television, radio, and "wireless communications" by March 2007, but until then, we suspect the ole "ear to the ground" method is the best you've got.

ENGADGET: Japan Meteorological Agency develops earthquake warning system

The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration presents a significant upgrade in existing data communications used in space -- with an estimated increase of six times the throughput of the current best radio system.

ENGADGET

The new system, which will become fully operational next year for much of China, is expected to use the same radio frequency as Europe's Galileo system and the U.S. GPS, making Western attempts to jam communications much more difficult.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: 2007: A Chinese space odyssey