The invention discloses a radio-frequency apparatus with improved power consumption and associated methods. An apparatus includes an RF receiver. The RF receiver includes digital signal arrival (DSA)circuitry to detect an arrival of a received signal in the RF receiver and to indicate arrival of the received signal. The RF receiver further includes detection circuitry to detect a signal from thereceived signal, and a controller to control operation of the detection circuitry depending on whether the DSA circuitry indicates the arrival of the received signal.