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Intuitively I'd agree with rickbb. If you put the steel J-pole between the last two antenna elements it will electrically couple with the antenna to some degree. There is an electrical resonance between the antenna elements that depends on their distance and passive electrical properties (impedance).
Since this is going indoors, you could cut it off and try hanging it from the ceiling with some string. If that works, you could try a plastic pipe or wood dowel for a little more rigid fastening. The heavy mast is meant to anchor it against the weather, and you won't need it indoors - assuming it's not needed as part of the electrical loading (I think it is not).
Shortening the boom theoretically changes the antenna too, but I suspect it won't matter. maybe one of the antenna design experts here will comment.
See if you can hang it from the ceiling without shortening it somehow. Operating not level )pointing at the sky instead of the horizon) probably reduces the antenna sensitivity, since it has a vertical as well as horizontal aperture.
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