[CW] Telegraph Sounder Decoding Practice

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

Re: Telegraph Sounder Decoding Practice???

From: James WB8SIW
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:12:36 -05

Some thoughts on learning to copy from a telegraph sounder.

The Morse Telegraph Club is an association of retired commercial
telegraphers an maintain a web page at www.morsetelegraphclub.com (don't go
to the ".org" page web page has a simple circuit that allows tone from a
receiver to operate a telegra

http://www.morsetelegraphclub.com/files/OldSiteArchive/images/mtc/mbox1.gif

I recommend that hams wanting to learn to copy from a sounder build this
simple CW. Eventually, you will be able to discern the rhythm patterns and
copy on the sou diminish the tone until all you hear is the sounder. It
won't take long, particularly if y

Activities that have repetition on-air help speed the process, such as
traffic nets in it is not difficult to copy on a sounder.

I would recommend that you use a "main line sounder" with the tone
converter circ sounder or the small 4-ohm "learner's sets" one encounters.
On that note, underst 40 to 60 mA. See this document for a detailed
discussion:

http://www.morsetelegraphclub.com/files/OldSiteArchive/images/mtc/especs.gif

On a related note, in the United States, sounders were utilized in
commercial ("land commercial telegraph companies (Western Union, Postal
Telegraph and Cables, Ca wire services (Associated Press, United Press,
International News Service), and so explained in this document:

http://www.morsetelegraphclub.com/files/OldSiteArchive/files/TelegraphCodes.p

If you want to hear the difference between the two codes in tone, you can
check ot latter being in "tone," so that ham radio operators can hear the
difference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zA_CszQJg4&t=3s

Here is a video of Christmas telegrams being sent from the Saginaw,
Michigan "Ho the telegrams being sent. It is, however, in American Morse
Code.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAUOK45qfEM

Anyway, I hope that helps a bit in your efforts.

73,

JW (WB8SIW)
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