An embodiment of an antenna system comprising a radio frequency (RF) current-sensing and current injecting antenna device for coupling RF energy, wherein the antenna device comprises an outer conducting non-magnetic housing, a magnetic core having a central aperture, said core insulated from said housing, and a first winding wound about said core, said first winding having a first end receiving said RF energy and a second end, said first winding insulated from said housing between said first end and said second end, wherein a conductor is positioned within said aperture, and said conductor has a length of at least 0.1 wavelength of said RF energy. Wherein, in a transmitting mode said antenna device couples RF energy, created in an RF transmitter, to the conductor. In a receiving mode said antenna device couples RF energy, developed in the conductor intercepting an RF field, to the input of an RF receiver. In the transmitting mode, the first winding functions as a primary winding and the conductor functions as a secondary winding. In the receiving mode, the first winding functions as a secondary winding and the conductor functions as a primary winding.