I’m trying to figure out how to tag telegraph lines. Please correct me if I’m wrong or if you would do it differently.
Option 1: communication=telegraph_line vs modern communication=line
Option 2: use the current communication=line + telecom:medium=telegraph (although the medium’s current values are =copper and =fibre)
In OSM, communication:telegraph=yes or optical_telegraph=* or historic=optical_telegraph appears on optical telegraph towers. For electrical telegraph lines, I’m seeing mostly communication=line or power=minor_line without anything more specific. And some wondering out loud in note=* tags.
telecom:medium=coaxial is also documented, but that’s still a physical description rather than anything to do with the message medium (e.g., cable TV). communication:*=* is about the message medium. It’s mostly on towers due to man_made=communication_tower, but if you’re already using communication=line, then communication:telegraph=yes seems appropriate.
That makes sense. And could we get rendering support for this? For the short time that Telegraphs existed it was often featured heavily on maps.
Once you settle on a tag, can you open an issue with an example in the database and an example map (either contemporary or retrospective) to use as a visual guide?
I didn’t understand why communication= used =line instead of =cable
OHM does need to consider uninsulated telegraph and telephone lines, similar to power= =line vs =cable
Also communcation= vs telecom , with someone using it telecom=line | Tags | OpenStreetMap Taginfo
And what about undersea cables
OSM is using communication=line for that too.