All,

This question is: How can the ground system for a vertical be improved?

The RF ground calculates to about 52 Ohms. It consists of 16 radials
varying in length from 24 to 45 feet. Four are buried and 12 are on
ground. The location is the Pacific Northwest part way up a hillside.
The surface is grass, the subsurface is clay. The value varies a little
with rain, it has measured as low as 46 to 48 Ohms.

Just as additional information, the antenna is a loaded vertical,
overall about 4 meters. The coil is about 35% from the base. The antenna
is raised about 1 meter. I am aware the configuration is not optimum and
a top hat would help, those changes will be made independently.

Several articles indicate this radial system should yield well under 20
Ohms, some estimates are under 8 Ohms. At this point my first target is
under 20 Ohms. Little that I do seems to affect it. My question is:

What am I missing?

The problem is the value does not appear to change very much. I started
with 4 radials and have been adding them periodically. Those changes do
not seem to have a measurable effect. (However I must admit that earlier
numbers not as good as the current measurement. I believe the current
measurements are better then 10%.)

Thanks - Dan