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Historical radio transmission: Telegraphs celebrate 200 years in Mainz!
On August 24, 2025, experience how radio amateurs enliven the historic telegraph route between Mainz and Metz.
Historical radio transmission: Telegraphs celebrate 200 years in Mainz!
On Sunday, August 24th, a special event will take place in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Lorraine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On this day, the historic optical telegraph stations that were once set up between Mainz and Metz are brought back to life. The starting point of this special revival is the citadel in Mainz, while the destination point is Metz, where the French radio amateurs will receive a greeting. This will be celebrated as part of a project that looks back on the history of the optical telegraph. Weekly Mirror Online reports that a total of 23 former telegraph stations, also known as semaphores, will be involved in Remembrance Day.
The line between Metz and Mainz was built by Claude Chappe on behalf of Emperor Napoleon and was in operation until 1813. It served primarily military purposes and was an important means of communication. Messages were visualized using movable pointer bars and beacons and transmitted to neighboring stations. Particularly highlighted is the location of the 414 meter high Litermont in Nalbach, which is run by the Lebach Q 15 local association of DARC e. V. and radio amateurs in post and telecommunications VFDB-Z 19 is activated.
The transmission method on Remembrance Day
On the planned day of the events, the message transmissions will be carried out by radio amateurs using small VHF transmitting and receiving devices. Numerous activities are planned on the Litermont plateau, including setting up battery-operated radios and participating in message transmission. The DARC-OV Lebach Q 15, which has been around for 50 years, plays a central role here.
Visitors are also provided with information that provides insights into how the Napoleonic telegraph stations worked and the development of wireless communication. Practical demonstrations are intended to introduce guests to the historical techniques and illustrate their importance in the context of communication.
The achievements of Claude Chappe
Claude Chappe, considered the inventor of modern telegraphy, was born in Brûlon in 1763. His revolutionary system made it possible to transmit messages over long distances. His first successful tests took place as early as 1791, and despite initial setbacks, his system developed into a crucial form of communication. epilogue describes how Chappe laid the foundation for modern communication systems with his work on optical telegraphy.
His telegraph system could display about 70 characters and conveyed messages over hundreds of kilometers in minutes. This achievement not only completed military communication structures, but also influenced civilian applications, such as communication with railway trains and transatlantic steamers.
Overall, the upcoming day of the event offers the opportunity to explore the fascinating history of telegraphy and look back at the achievements that Claude Chappe and his colleagues made possible. For further information, interested parties can contact Tel. (01 75) 1 15 12 48 or visit the website www.dl0mz.de/semaphoren-tag-2025 visit.