Topband: Critters Eating Coax

[K1ZM at aol.com]

Thanks to all those who took the time to provide assistance.

My assessment of possible solutions would seem to be these:

1) Best - use 50 ohm hardline - (a bit pricey - but AA1K and others say it 
worked for them - Tks Jon)

2) Put the coax in something - like conduit.  I see Home Depot has 1/2 inch 
PVC conduit available here in NY for 98cents a 10 foot interlocking section

(I will probably go this route).

3) Use flooded - direct burial cable - from the wireman or from RADIOWARE 
(Davis RF bury flex)

(I like this one too but I think my red squirrels will still eat this stuff 
enough to put me off the air in time - perhaps it would take LONGER - but I 
think it would fail eventually.)

4) Bury the coax - tough to do in a DENSE forest - unless you cut all the 
trees FIRST which I am loathe to do

So, I will probably go the PVC conduit route - it is EASY to pass RG213 
through it as long as the PL259's are off the cable and the various sections can 
either be taped or PVC glued together - very EASY to make this one work - just 
takes time.

I especially enjoyed the comments like:

1) Rent CATS to scare off the squirrels
2) Get a shotgun - and the cook up the squirrels as ROAD-KILL with onions and 
peppers
3) Use salt and birdseed so the squirrels would like that BETTEr THAN THE 
JACKET on 213!!

All good ideas - in the end, what works for YOU is the best solution.

I think I am gonna try the Home Depot PVC 1/2 inch conduit.

Tks again to all those who provided ideas.  I am most grateful for the help.

73 JEFF

K1ZM at aol.com