A communication device 10 and a corresponding method are arranged for changing the radiation pattern of an antenna 14, where the radiation pattern of the antenna 14 is set to a half-space pattern if the communication device 10 is in close proximity to an object. A reflector 18 is activated to produce the half space radiation pattern. The reflector 18 is deactivated to produce the full space pattern. A switching device 26 determines the state of the reflector 18. A sensing and control device 23 controls the state of the switching device 26.