[TowerTalk] QUAD FEEDING

[Bob T.]

I'm ready to put a Lightning Bolt 2 element, 20/15/10m quad up at 80ft. I want to do this right the first time, and get the best reasonable performance from the antenna. Lightning Bolt supplies a 2:1 balun for a common feedpoint. The owner of the company sez this is the best way to feed the antenna for max performance, anyone who sez otherwise is wrong. But...he can't supply figures or pattern pics. Others favor the gamma match method, but still I haven't seen any concrete evidence that this is the best way. (believe me, I've scoured the web) Still others say a common feed point (feed line)is just no good; the only way to go is seperate feedlines for each band. Still no facts or figures to back up this claim. I am primarily concerned with maximum forward gain and a fairly good pattern. I won't quibble over .5-1.0 db or so. If it makes any difference, I am also interested in integrating a 3 element 6 meter quad on the same boom. (seperate feed) and/or mounting a loaded 40 meter dipole along the boom of the quad. So, who has the facts? Please, no educated guesses or second hand anectdotes. Thanks.