A portable communication device (100) has an antenna with predominantly upward antenna radiation patterns at GPS frequencies. The portable communication device (100) includes a housing with a base portion (240) enclosing base portion circuitry (241) and an upper clamshell portion (242) enclosing upper clamshell portion circuitry (243). The portable communication device (100) also includes a hinge assembly (244) coupled to the base portion (240) and the upper clamshell portion (242) for rotatably coupling the upper clamshell portion (242) to the base portion (240) and an antenna element (236) physically coupled to a first side (248) of the upper clamshell portion (242) and electrically coupled to a ground of the upper clamshell portion circuitry (243). The ground of the upper clamshell portion circuitry (243) is electrically connected to a ground of the base portion circuitry (241) by one side of the hinge assembly (244) located closest to a second side (250) of the upper clamshell portion (242) opposite the first side (248).