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Decode a signal

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

Satellite Signal Desk

A training log has signal meanings but no complete legend for the receiving panel. Work together to set the satellite receiving panel.

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 ↓

Satellite Signal Desk: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right.

Your mission

Work together to set the satellite receiving panel.

Welcome to the satellite signal desk. A training log has signal meanings but no complete legend for the receiving panel. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to set the satellite receiving panel. 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, Call 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. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right.

Satellite Signal Desk: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right.
Read this clue in text

Unlabelled legend Signals: DOT, BAR, ARC. Words: LEFT, HOLD, RIGHT. Each signal has one word; each word is used once. Training messages DOT+BAR means HOLD+LEFT (any order) BAR+ARC means HOLD+RIGHT (any order) DOT+ARC means LEFT+RIGHT (any order) Received message BAR > ARC Report decoded words in order, with hyphens.

Clue 2 of 6

Record

Use the call log and dish register to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.

Satellite Signal Desk: Use the call log and dish register to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.
Read this clue in text

Call log item: Dish | tag: PINE | status: checked item: Mast | tag: WAVE | status: cancelled item: Relay | tag: STAR | status: draft Dish register tag: STAR | bay: NORTH tag: PINE | bay: EAST tag: WAVE | bay: WEST Cross-check Match A.tag to B.tag. A.status is not cancelled. A.status is not draft. Report B.bay.

Clue 3 of 6

Operator

Operator desk: Each person has ONE different item. Use all four NOT rules. Find Lyra's item and copy its digit.

Satellite Signal Desk: Operator desk: Each person has ONE different item. Use all four NOT rules. Find Lyra's item and copy its digit.
Read this clue in text

Dish digit 1 Panel digit 4 Relay digit 7 People: Nova, Orion, Lyra Nova does NOT have Dish. Orion does NOT have Panel. Orion does NOT have Relay. Lyra does NOT have Panel. Find Lyra's item. Each item is used once.

Clue 4 of 6

Battery

Battery desk: Every parcel has the same whole-number weight. Remove loose units, find ONE parcel and check the second rule.

Satellite Signal Desk: Battery desk: Every parcel has the same whole-number weight. Remove loose units, find ONE parcel and check the second rule.
Read this clue in text

2 parcels + 4 loose units = 12 units 2 parcels + 3 loose units = 11 units One parcel = ? units. Whole numbers 1–9. All parcels have equal weight.

Clue 5 of 6

Channel

Channel desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.

Satellite Signal Desk: Channel desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.
Read this clue in text

Columns: A, B, C, D. Rows: 1, 2, 3. 1 M A E G 2 C F J A 3 H B P S BEAM = 7 DOCK = 0 STAR = 3 READ COORDINATES IN ORDER: B3 > C1 > D2 > A1

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.

Satellite Signal Desk: 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: A2 / B0 / C1 / D2 / E0. Pulse cards (turns in dial order) Signal: LEFT-HOLD=(1,2,0,0,0); HOLD-RIGHT=(2,1,0,0,0) Record: EAST=(0,1,0,2,0); NORTH=(0,2,0,1,0) Operator: 1=(0,0,1,2,0); 7=(0,0,2,1,0) Battery: 4=(2,0,0,1,0); 1=(1,0,0,2,0) Channel: 0=(2,0,0,0,1); 7=(1,0,0,0,2) Setting rule Add every chosen pulse. Move around each dial loop. Report dial ID + state, in order, with hyphens.

Start after: Signal, Record, Operator, Battery, Channel

A different kind of mystery next

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