Feeder protection apparatus comprising a plurality of side panels attached around a periphery of the base of the feeder by a plurality of fasteners. Additional time is available for processing received data blocks if the feedback information derived from those blocks must be reported later than expected due to the unavailability of uplink subframes. Separation of the plates places the sutures in tension and constricts the commissures. The portable device includes a transmitter receiver, a storage circuit and a control circuit.