2. What does it mean to say that a certain Yagi design uses "direct feed?"
Although many Yagi designs in current use have feedpoint impedance running from 20 to 30 Ohms, it is possible to design a high performance Yagi that shows a feedpoint impedance of 50 Ohms. In this case, we do not need a matching network, since the feedpoint impedance is the same as the characteristic impedance of the most common coaxial cables.
However, we do have some constraints when using a direct feed driven element, as shown in Fig. 1. Regardless of the construction methods used for the other elements, the driven element must be insulated from the boom. The driven element must be split at the center to create a gap similar to what we find in a common wire dipole. The size of the gap is not critical at 10 meters and might range from 1/4" to 1".
We connect the inner conductor of the coax to one side of the element, and the braid to the other side. Hence: direct feed.
This is how I made my six element beam (minus the balun).
This is how I understand one to be direct fed.
This is NOT how the guy on the radio described "direct fed".
This is the source of my confusion. :?:
