Trains, planes and telegraph lines.

[Yo_Yo]

Hows about a Tv and VCR? I want my people in jail to be able to watch old nasty porn instead of sit and rot. Plus Tv can get messages through too. We all know about comercials.

[Schme]

Hows about a Tv and VCR? I want my people in jail to be able to watch old nasty porn instead of sit and rot. Plus Tv can get messages through too. We all know about comercials.

Now that's just rediculous. How do you propose we go about that, eh? We would have to have animators, timing, and hundreds of other completly unfeasable things. And why in the hell would anyone give a prisoner a Television if one existed? Having people sit and rot is half the point of a prison. Perhaps keeping someone for labor, but that's it!

I have a feeling that you are only saying that because you happen to have a character in prison, and are bored of it. But people do go to prison, in real life, even for unjust reasons, and I mean no offence, but I think you should just deal with it.

Hey, and why not write? Write political systems, criticisms of your imprisoners and the ruling class, countless works of poety and song.....Some of the best writers in the world did some kickass work in prison, for example, Bach. Not only that, some of the most successfull politicians in the world wrote there great works in prison. For example, Adolf Hitler wrote his book "My Strugle" behind bars. (Notice I said succesfull, not great)

There's tons of things you can do. You just have to use your imagination.

[Schme]

I'd rather have heliographs, either light based or the mechnical machine based that might not be called a heliograph or both, than telegraphs.

I've never heard of a Heliograph. Would it be more feasable thing? Do tell.

[wichita]

Hows about a Tv and VCR? I want my people in jail to be able to watch old nasty porn instead of sit and rot. Plus Tv can get messages through too. We all know about comercials.

... And why in the hell would anyone give a prisoner a Television if one existed? Having people sit and rot is half the point of a prison. Perhaps keeping someone for labor, but that's it!

I have a feeling that you are only saying that because you happen to have a character in prison, and are bored of it. But people do go to prison, in real life, even for unjust reasons, and I mean no offence, but I think you should just deal with it.

I think Yo-Yo's just trying to introduce the American prison system to Cantr.

[TatteredShoeLace]

Yeah, they get more channels than I do. I wish I were in prison, that'd rock. Well, except for the part. On second thought, I'm too good looking to last 9 minutes in jail with crazy folks like Rev and Surly (your typical prisoners of course)

[Schme]

Damned yankees......

[wichita]

Damned yankees......

Why I take offense at your accusation, sir! I'll have you know that my great great great great granpappy was founder of the great city of Nashville Tennessee! Damn Yankees indeed! *slaps schme in the face with a glove* The South will rise again!

[Antichrist_Online]

Americans!

The heliograph is basically a mirror used to flash messages in morsecode during the day.

[The Industriallist]

The 'mechanical machine' refered to is called a Semaphore, I believe. Also popular for comunicating to and between ships prior to wireless telegraph. (or in radio silence)

[Lord_Igor]

A heliograph uses a mirror to reflect sunlight to a distant observer. By moving the mirror the distant observer sees flashes of light that can be used to send a prearranged signalling code.

The first recorded use of a heliograph was in 405 BC when the Ancient Greeks used polished shields to signal in battle, described in Xenophon's Hellenica.

The unpopular Roman emperor Tiberius used a heliograph to rule the Empire from a villa on the island of Capri - sending orders each day to the mainland, eight miles away.

I haven't found any information on the other type of heliographs, the one with mechanical machinery that might in fact not be called a heliograph. Those of you who have read the right Discworld novels know them as clacks. Those of you who have played the Swedish rpg Mutant know them as heliograf. Instead of signaling with light there are lots of flaps that are rearranged.
Whichever type you use, the signaling equipment should be placed high (e.g. up in/on a tower) so it can be seen from farther away and perhaps some kind of ocular device should be used when receiving the signals. Both kinds are also have weather restrictions. Poor weather means no signals can be received.
Gamewise, I'm thinking it as its own kind of building. If a heliograph is built at one location it can send signals to the neighbouring locations. Sending signals is a project which requires work dependant on how long the message is. This project can be started with the heliograph machinery inside the heliograph building. Perhaps more machinery can be added into one building or perhaps there is no heliograph building type, only machines which can be built in any building. In order to actually receive the signals, someone would have to be looking for them which would be a unlimited length project like resting. The person looking for signals would perhaps have to have some kind of ocular device and/or be inside a heliograph building. Anyone doing this at the receiving location would read the sent message. When/if weather is implemented it will have effects on the possibility of receiving signals. The light based heliograph migh also only be used on certain hours of the day, but this would require a sun cycle implemented and the other type might be built facing a static direction, if you want to limit these more. And perhaps the listener would have to be looking in the right direction. Maybe all of this can be applied to telegraphs as well.

On another note, homing pigeons would also be nice.

[The Industriallist]

Incidentally, (maybe) more effective than a Heligraph (and cheaper if it's hard to make mirrors) is the night version, where you would make use of a lantern or torch. Of course, that takes fuel. Beacons of Gondor from LotR being a large scale simplified version of this.

However, these might let you ignore the unpleasant issue of day/night cycle, since they aren't too impractical on a dim day.

[SekoETC]

I started thinking around day 1118 that couldn't a well-polished iron shield be used for reflecting the sunlight to send messages?

[Solfius]

Lord_Igor, Industrialist is correct, what you talk of (The clacks form Discworld) are in fact semaphore towers

[Lord_Igor]

What do you mean Industrialist is correct? Not that he is wrong, but you imply that I am wrong. I talked (wrote) about both types.

[Solfius]

I was ratifying his comment, and directing it at you because you asked, or atleast I thought you did. Someone wasn't sure, so I just confirmed it.

both types? my understanding was that the clacks were semaphore towers, just using a different name because it's Discworld.