Roman relay stations

In the 1st century B.C., the Romans established the “cursus publicus,” an extensive network of relay stations using horse-drawn vehicles and runners to deliver messages across the empire. This system allowed for fast communication over long distances, akin to the repeater networks in amateur radio. The Romans’ strategic placement of relay stations ensured messages could traverse their vast territories efficiently. This principle is reflected in amateur radio, where operators strategically place repeaters to maximize communication range and reliability, ensuring messages can be transmitted swiftly and accurately across large areas.