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Homer,


If your main radiator was not grounded at the base, then when you ground it expect to have to retune the antenna. For example if grounding the base makes the VSWR go up higher, don't get discouraged. You will have to adjust the gamma match again for the new condition and may find adding length to the main radiator helps now that it's grounded.


I know it doesn't appear to make sense at first that the radiator should be grounded at the base. This is common practice with a shunt fed gamma match and allows the entire antenna to be at DC ground for lightning protection. RF currents do not see this as a direct short at the resonant frequency.