Patent ID: 7123650

Claim:
A method for locking onto a downstream frequency by a wireless modem in a broadband wireless access system comprising: receiving at a radio coupled to the wireless modem, a plurality of signals at least one corresponding to a downstream signal being transmitted on a downstream frequency; determining, at the wireless modem, if the radio is locked onto the at least one downstream signal received at the radio; if the radio is locked onto the downstream signal, determining a center frequency of a detected frequency range corresponding to the downstream signal; if the radio is not locked onto the downstream signal, changing a receiving frequency of the radio by signals from the wireless modem according to a predetermined frequency plan until the radio is locked onto the one downstream signal and then determining the center frequency of the detected frequency range; determining a frequency offset factor; and transmitting an instruction from the wireless modem to the radio to operate a frequency other than the center frequency, the frequency other than the center frequency being a function of the frequency offset factor and center frequency.