Topband: 160m L impedance??

[Herb Schoenbohm]

John wrote:
> OK Gurus......
>
> Quarter-wave L, vertical to 66 feet, balance horizontal.  32 radials on the ground, length ranging from 35 to 68 feet with a good mix of those lengths.  Using 14 solid copper, insulated wire.  At the feed point, I see the lowest SWR of 3.2 at 1.820 MHz.  But, the impedance measures 80 +/- ohms!   My soil is mostly sand, although it is a top soil, sand mix. 
>
> The "bad" news is the antenna works OK....128 in two seasons.
>
> Why the high impedance?  
>
>   
Most likely ground losses make the impedance high...try adding even if 
temporary some 1/4 wave radials or lay some large squares of rabbit or 
chicken wire in all directions to mitigate the lossy ground and measure 
the difference obtained.

Good luck,

Herb, KV4FZ