The present invention provides an improved antenna assembly (66) designed to maintain RF communication between an object (22, 64, 148) to be heated, and a heating assembly (20, 60) such as an induction heater having a hob (34) equipped with an induction work coil (36). The antenna assembly (66) provides substantially continuous RF communication about the entirety of the hob (34), so that the object (22, 64, 148) can be rotated through substantially 360E, or displaced radially, without loss of RF communication. The preferred antenna assembly (66) includes an antenna (67) mounted upon a substrate (68) and presenting a plurality of continuous, conductive antenna loops (70, 72) oriented to cooperatively and substantially around the hob (34). Each of the loops (70, 72) has an inner section (82, 84) proximal to the hob (34) and defines a respective, enclosed RF communication zone (94,96) outboard of and disposed about the hob (34); the zones (94,96) cooperatively define a substantially continuous RF communication zone outboard of and disposed about the hob (34). The antenna assembly (66) also includes antenna circuitry 97 including tuning assemblies (98, 100) and a terminal network (102). In alternative forms, radiant, resistant heating, or other types of heating hobs can be used.