"Larry W4CSC" wrote

"Ground" is a relative thing in RF. You don't even need a "ground"
ground. What you need is a slightly longer than 1/4 wavelength radial
system from the tuner laid out flat.

Or a dipole.

Nope....doesn't wash. The tuner needs to be as close to the antenna
as possible and the antenna needs to be as far away from any other
metal objects as you can get it. .... Go visit any Navy ship ....

See "Shipboard Antennas", Library of Congress #86-70448, especially the
AS-1867 in fig 2-33 on p105.