Method for selecting frequency channels (K1-Kn) in a communication system using a frequency hopping method, in particular for the consumption recording of consumption metering devices, in which data are transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver by means of radio transmission, wherein data packets are coded before transmission by the transmitter and are decoded after reception by the receiver, and characterized in that a plurality of frequency channel patterns (8, 8a-8d) are provided and comprise a respectively defined sequence of the occupancy of the frequency channels (K1-Kn), the transmission quality of the frequency channels (K1-Kn) is evaluated and, on the basis of the evaluation of the transmission quality of the frequency channels (K1-Kn), a decision is made in respect of a selection of the frequency channel (K1-Kn) or frequency channels (K1-Kn) which is/are used to transmit the data by changing from a current frequency channel pattern to a different frequency channel pattern (8a-8d) on the basis of the evaluation of the transmission quality of the respective frequency channel (K1-Kn), a likelihood quotient WQ for the likelihood of a successful transmission is determined before the decoding by the receiver, the likelihood quotient WQ is used as a metric for determining the interference state of a part of a data packet, the transmission quality of the respective frequency channel (K1-Kn) is evaluated on the basis of the interference state of the part of the data packet, the data are transmitted in the form of parts of the data packets comprising a plurality of bits in a frequency/time block, and the parts of the data packets are transmitted electively via a plurality of different frequency channels (K1-Kn). data packets are coded before transmission by the transmitter and are decoded after reception by the receiver, and characterized in that a plurality of frequency channel patterns (8, 8a-8d) are provided and comprise a respectively defined sequence of the occupancy of the frequency channels (K1-Kn), the transmission quality of the frequency channels (K1-Kn) is evaluated and, on the basis of the evaluation of the transmission quality of the frequency channels (K1-Kn), a decision is made in respect of a selection of the frequency channel (K1-Kn) or frequency channels (K1-Kn) which is/are used to transmit the data by changing from a current frequency channel pattern to a different frequency channel pattern (8a-8d) on the basis of the evaluation of the transmission quality of the respective frequency channel (K1-Kn), a likelihood quotient WQ for the likelihood of a successful transmission is determined before the decoding by the receiver, the likelihood quotient WQ is used as a metric for determining the interference state of a part of a data packet, the transmission quality of the respective frequency channel (K1-Kn) is evaluated on the basis of the interference state of the part of the data packet, the data are transmitted in the form of parts of the data packets comprising a plurality of bits in a frequency/time block, and the parts of the data packets are transmitted electively via a plurality of different frequency channels (K1-Kn).