A system for channel sounding and initializing an equalizer using a frequency hopping sounder signal. The system identifies a frequency range for sounding a channel between a first device at a first location within a wellbore and a second device at a second location within the wellbore. Center frequencies, bandwidths, and timeframes are assigned to each of a plurality of sounding sequences, such that an entirety of the frequency range is assigned to the plurality of sounding sequences, and wherein when played in order according to the timeframe assigned to each sounding sequence in the plurality of sounding sequences, a sounding signal having a non-contiguous frequency is produced. By comparing an attenuated sounding signal based on the sounding signal to the sounding signal, the system estimates a transfer function of the channel. The system also initializes the equalizer based on the comparison.