[CW] Copy of telegraph sounder (was: American vs Continental)

[Jim Glover]

> Of course, with landline telegraphy, receiving by ear is a whole different 
> ballgame, with the clicks of the sounder instead of the on/off tone we are 
> used to with radio.  However, I have listened to Continental sent through a 
> sounder and found it amazingly easy to copy in my head, even the first time 
> I tried.  There is usually a demonstration set up at the Dayton Fleamarket.

I saw a similar demonstration at HamCom this year.  I was floored.
The copy was just as easy for me as tone copy.

I found myself wondering if the demonstration had perhaps been
substantially tailored.  The clicks of the sounder were exceptionally
deep and vibrant.  Rather than the metallic clicks I'm accustomed to
hearing, these had melodious tones reminiscent of temple blocks.  The
difference between down and up (or is that start and finish?) was
pronounced.  I wondered if the easy copy weren't perhaps largely a
result of the sounds having been customized for easy copy by people
who copy Morse by tone.

I walked away from that demonstration with two lasting impressions:

--It might be easy to learn copy by sounder if one had a similar
sounder.  Quite likely, in the long run the experience would make it
easier to copy more typical metallic sounders (with a more subtle
difference between down and up clicks).

--I want to build a sounder (or two) like the one in that demonstration!

I don't suppose we're fortunate enough to have plans for a similar type
of sounder lurking on a web page somewhere, or something?

73,
Jim  WB5UDE