A magnetic resonance (MR) system includes a main magnet having a bore and producing a substantially homogenous magnetic field (B0) within a scanning volume. A mobile radio-frequency (RF) coil (MRF) includes at least one transmit antenna for transmitting a location signal within the bore of the magnet. At least one receive antenna os situated substantially at a known location and configured to receive the transmitted location signal. A controller is configured to align the transmit antenna of the MRF with reference to the known location of the receive antenna based upon an analysis of the received location signal.