[TowerTalk] Traps and bugs

[Barry]

Hi all,
One of my TH7s started acting flaky recently, so I dropped the two 
driven elements and took the traps apart.  I went through this 
exercise 2-3 years ago for the same reason.  (I'd like to get the 
parasitic elements down too to check them out, but too much of a 
hassle to bring the whole antenna down). They were full of spider 
eggs, grass clippings, etc. which detuned them. After cleaning, it 
tuned fine again.

I wonder if anyone has a solution to prevent all this crud from 
getting into the traps? One idea that occurred to me is putting small 
squares of fiberglass window screen over each drain hole.  Has anyone 
tried this, or any other thoughts?
73,
Barry W2UP--
Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up at mindspring.com
Newtown, PA                     Frankford Radio Club