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Decode a signal

Ages 8–10 · Est. 35–50 minutes · 2–6 players

Relay Station Echo

A receiver repeats its inputs; the crew must distinguish the signal order from an unordered training key. Work together to set the echo receiver.

6 clues, gradual hints and a complete paper finish. Choose a reader, a recorder and a checker, then work through the mission together.

Get your printable packPlay on screen

See every player clue ↓

Relay Station Echo: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. These examples keep their order. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling the echo receiver.

Your mission

Work together to set the echo receiver.

Welcome to the relay station. A receiver repeats its inputs; the crew must distinguish the signal order from an unordered training key. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to set the echo receiver. Keep every result beside its badge so another teammate can check your reasoning.

How your team will think

Infer a one-to-one legend and apply recovered instructions to a control panel.

Write each recovered instruction beside its signal. Keep the legend and the panel’s starting settings visible as you apply the instructions and check the final configuration.

Set up in one room

  1. Print the six player sheets and two record sheets for each team. Keep answers and hints with the host.
  2. Lay out Unlabelled legend, Relay log, the remaining clue sheets and the final plan. All task records are printed inside the sheets; no extra prop is needed.
  3. After each clue, pass roles one seat clockwise. With two players, combine Reader with Recorder and Checker with Builder. With five or six, add a second checker and a source finder; everyone explains one decision.

Bring to the table

  • One complete player set and record set per team
  • One pencil per child
  • One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Print and sorting checklist · Plan the player roles

Ages and durations are design estimates. Choose the pace and reading support that suit your group.

Look before you print

See all 6 player clues

These are the actual figures and instructions from the player pack. Read the final page’s rule along with the earlier clues.

Clue 1 of 6

Signal

Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. These examples keep their order. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling the echo receiver.

Relay Station Echo: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. These examples keep their order. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling the echo receiver.
Read this clue in text

Unlabelled legend Signals: DOT, BAR, ARC. Words: WAIT, SEND, TURN. Each signal has one word; each word is used once. Training messages ARC+DOT means TURN+SEND BAR+ARC means WAIT+TURN Received message DOT > BAR Report decoded words in order, with hyphens.

Clue 2 of 6

Record

Ignore cancelled and draft relay records. Match the remaining tag to a bay, then match that bay to the line card. Report the line material rather than the first bay name you find.

Relay Station Echo: Ignore cancelled and draft relay records. Match the remaining tag to a bay, then match that bay to the line card. Report the line material rather than the first bay name you find.
Read this clue in text

Relay log item: Mast | tag: PINE | status: cancelled item: Wire | tag: WAVE | status: draft item: Dish | tag: STAR | status: checked Cable book tag: STAR | bay: NORTH tag: PINE | bay: EAST tag: WAVE | bay: WEST Relay line cards bay: EAST | line: COPPER bay: WEST | line: FIBRE bay: NORTH | line: TWINE Cross-check Match A.tag to B.tag. Match B.bay to C.bay. A.status is not cancelled. A.status is not draft. Report C.line.

Clue 3 of 6

Window

A relay test and the trip to its receiver must fit one window. Reject starts before the bench opens, windows that end too soon and arrivals after the receiver deadline. Report the only usable window.

Relay Station Echo: A relay test and the trip to its receiver must fit one window. Reject starts before the bench opens, windows that end too soon and arrivals after the receiver deadline. Report the only usable window.
Read this clue in text

Departure windows (minutes after opening) EARLY: start 3; window ends 25 BRIEF: start 16; window ends 20 CLEAR: start 20; window ends 36 LATE: start 31; window ends 55 Work and travel Earliest start 10; job 8 min. Travel 5 min; arrival deadline 40. Job + travel must both fit inside one window. Report the only possible window ID.

Clue 4 of 6

Kit

Pack a kit that supplies all three needs. One card may cover two needs, but its weight is counted once. Choose the lightest complete kit within the carrier limit. Report its card letters alphabetically.

Relay Station Echo: Pack a kit that supplies all three needs. One card may cover two needs, but its weight is counted once. Choose the lightest complete kit within the carrier limit. Report its card letters alphabetically.
Read this clue in text

Supply cards A: weight 5; gives tie+light B: weight 2; gives mark C: weight 2; gives tie D: weight 2; gives light+mark E: weight 7; gives tie+light+mark Packing order Capacity 7; must cover tie, light, mark. Use the lightest complete kit. Each card once. Write chosen card IDs alphabetically, with hyphens.

Clue 5 of 6

Food

The relay bench has the listed stock. Follow the dependency cards to find which test can run now. Both power and line must be ready when a card says AND.

Relay Station Echo: The relay bench has the listed stock. Follow the dependency cards to find which test can run now. Both power and line must be ready when a card says AND.
Read this clue in text

Relay readiness cards POWER needs CELL LINE needs WIRE ECHO needs POWER AND LINE LAMP needs POWER AND BULB BULB needs DELIVERY Starting conditions Available now: CELL, WIRE. A result becomes available when its needs are met. Which of ECHO, LAMP, BULB becomes available?

Clue 6 of 6

Final

Use the five results to select five pulse cards. Start at the recorded dial states. Add all selected turns for each dial and follow its loop: 0, 1, 2, then 0 again. Report the final state of dials A through E.

Relay Station Echo: Use the five results to select five pulse cards. Start at the recorded dial states. Add all selected turns for each dial and follow its loop: 0, 1, 2, then 0 again. Report the final state of dials A through E.
Read this clue in text

Control panel Dial order: A, B, C, D, E. States: 0 > 1 > 2 (loop). Start: A1 / B2 / C0 / D1 / E2. Pulse cards (turns in dial order) Signal: SEND-WAIT=(1,2,0,0,0); WAIT-SEND=(2,1,0,0,0) Record: COPPER=(0,1,0,2,0); TWINE=(0,2,0,1,0) Window: CLEAR=(0,0,2,1,0); EARLY=(0,0,1,2,0) Kit: A-B=(1,0,0,2,0); C-D=(2,0,0,1,0) Food: ECHO=(1,0,0,0,2); LAMP=(2,0,0,0,1) Setting rule Add every chosen pulse. Move around each dial loop. Report dial ID + state, in order, with hyphens.

Start after: Signal, Record, Window, Kit, Food

A different kind of mystery next

Keep the habit of sharing evidence and try a new reasoning task.