Topband: Critters Eating Cables

[TNeill1648@aol.com]

I thought I would share my thoughts and inject some "country wisdom" since I 
live on a farm had for years had a major problem with various critters eating 
my coax and rotor cables.

Several years ago I had a bad experience with a large snake that crawled on 
my back patio.  After getting the snake off the bricks with water from a 
garden hose I put one of my trusty 12 gauge shotguns to work and that 
concluded that episode.

I was telling several guys what happened at the farmers co-op and they  
shared their "country wisdom" on keeping snakes away from the house and I 
must admit, that it works.  It is very simple.  Periodically spread a few 
moth balls around the foundation of your house or around your fence by your 
house.  I tried this and that was the end of snakes, skunks, and assorted 
other critters around the house.

A few weeks later, I was checking my RG-17 coax where it runs up the tower 
nd noticed that it was almost eaten through by some critter.  I took a 
coffee can that is about 1 quart in size and punched holes in the bottom of 
the can so it would drain moisture.  The top of the can was sealed with the 
plastic top that comes with the coffee can.  The can was filled with moth 
balls and wired to the tower leg where the coax comes out of the ground from 
4 inch conduit.  About once per quarter I change the moth balls and that has 
been the end of critters chewing on my hardline and coax.
For what it's worth.  73s all

Tom, K4XG



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