[UK-CONTEST] CQWW at GM4YXI

[Mike Farmer]

Keith wrote

>The 20m beam has been a real source of weakness and had failed on me
>during the last 2 ARRL SSB events. It took a while but I think I have the
>electrical problem solved. (Part of the trouble is that the beam seems to
>attract millions of starlings from the farm buildings nearby and the
>bird-sh** and flexing of the elements messes up the gamma match. Anyone
>know how to get rid of the birds??).

I have a friend whose thatched roof has been attacked in a similar fashion
the bird c**p
appears to rot both the thatch and the wire placed on top to retain it. A
local thatcher (not Margaret) suggested getting a plastic look alike bird of
prey and mount it on the chimney. He now has a 2ft high owl!! on his house
and the problem appears to have gone away - might be finding out what
starlings are wary off.

73 de Mike