What does the ground plane have to do with the antenna?
In the case of a 1/4 wave antenna the ground plane acts as the counterpoise to form, in essence, a centered half wave dipole. Since this plane is essentially the other half of the antenna, its size and proximity are essential. Often an antenna can appear smaller than its specified wavelength. This is due to internal mechanical tricks, such as helical windings, that can dramatically reduce the antenna's physical size. This does not mean that the same size is appropriate for the ground plane. A compromised ground plane can affect antenna stability and operational frequency. Linx Application Note AN-00500 should be reviewed for greater understanding of general antenna issues.