Patent ID: 8284115

Claim:
An apparatus for coupling a radio communication device to a host system, the radio communication device including a radio electromagnetic body and a radio electronics system, the apparatus comprising: a) a housing including a counterpoise, said counterpoise operatively coupled to the radio electromagnetic body; and b) a signal pathway operatively coupling the radio electronics system to the host system, the signal pathway including one or more conductors contained inside a conductive enclosure, the conductive enclosure configured to provide electromagnetic isolation between the signal pathway and the radio electromagnetic body, wherein the apparatus is configured for removable coupling to the radio communication device, the apparatus thereby providing a counterpoise for the radio communication device which is external to the host system and to the radio communication device when the apparatus is coupled between the radio communication device and the host system, and wherein the counterpoise is conductively coupled to the radio electromagnetic body at least in part via the conductive enclosure and via a coupling having a predetermined impedance.