"John Smith" wrote
the 'ground' connection to a radio feeding a dipole is actually
returning current from the ground back to the feedpoint via the
outside of the coax shield.
______________

Usually there are good reasons to connect an earth-based tx chassis to an
earth r-f ground. But if the tx is feeding a dipole or other balanced
radiator, that radiator doesn't need or use a connection to an earth r-f
ground to generate its radiation. The current source for one side of the
dipole is the other side of the dipole.

For example consider airborne VHF tx/rx/antenna systems -- which work just
fine with no reference to an earth "r-f ground," whatsoever.

RF