A method begins by detecting a variance of one or more RF characteristics of a wireless sensor from a desired value of the one or more RF characteristics, due to exposure to an environmental condition. The tuning circuit is operably coupled to an antenna that includes a tail section that is located in a radio frequency (RF) limited area, and a head section that is located in a non-RF limited area. The method continues by adjusting the tuning circuit in response to the detecting of the variance. The method continues by generating a message regarding the adjusting of the tuning circuit, wherein a level of the adjusting of the tuning circuit is representative of the variance of the one or more RF characteristics sensed by the tail section. The method continues by transmitting the message to one or more of an RF reader and a computing device.