Radio frequency antenna

A method of reconfiguring an antenna assembly on a radio-communication assembly having a housing with a surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an antenna assembly on the housing with a shaft element moveable between first and second positions relative to the surface of the housing;
• providing a tube-like matching element disposed about the shaft element such that the matching element mechanically reinforces a part of the shaft element;
• moving the shaft element from the first position to the second position;
• and
• abutting the tube-like matching element against the surface of the housing as an incident of the shaft element being moved from the first position into the second position so that the tube-like matching element resists deformation of the shaft element adjacent the surface of the housing;
• coupling the tube-like matching element to ground with the shaft element moved into the second position.

An antenna assembly comprising:

• a shaft element with first and second ends;
• a contact disposed at the first end of the shaft element and electrically coupled to the shaft element;
• a tube-like matching element disposed about the shaft element, the tube-like matching element strengthening and rigidifing the antenna assembly to resist bending of at least a part of the shaft element;
• and
• a dielectric material disposed between the tube-like matching element and the shaft element.