Topband: Deterring Critters

[Bruce]

Thanks Bill,

Not that long ago , I had a dual band 4 square for 160, and 80 meters. It 
took 18 relays and a lot of coax cable that had some failures.
I stopped having coax problems after a friend recommended Belden 9292 
RG-11/U. However about that time it seemed like many neighbors were getting 
cats. I currently have a very large, Bombay species, neutered male.  Hates 
rodents-bring his catch outside of the kitchen door. He is young and agile 
which allows him to occasionally overtake a gray squirrel going  up a tree. 
But he backs down slowly.  Squirrels started using the telephone cables to 
go cross country.
 I had started to think the great reduction in rodents had solved the 
problem. But tonight  checking  Belden cable 9292 specs--- it has a HDPE 
jacket.
73
Bruce





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Wichers" <billw at waveform.net>
To: "Bruce" <k1fz at myfairpoint.net>; <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 4:01 PM
Subject: RE: Topband: Deterring Critters


> You can get coax with a PE outer jacket, although I think they usually
> use MDPE instead of HDPE for coax. All you need to do is order the
> direct-bury type, which should almost always have a PE jacket. Getting
> the flooded kind will also help if you do get any tooth-holes in your
> cable.
>
> BTW, it's surprisingly reliable to test for a PE jacket using the
> "fingernail scratch test". After you've done it enough times you can
> identify a PE jacket by the "feel" when you scratch it. I know it sounds
> goofy, but it's almost 100% reliable after you get the feel for it. PE
> has a unique feel to it when scratched with an edge (like a fingernail
> :-). Try it and you'll know what I mean. This is handy if you have
> mystery wire and want to test it.
>
>    -Bill
>