To determine the equalisation delay of a substation (S3), the main station (C) of a transmission system measures, during an initial coarse measurement, the time interval between the sending of a first ranging signal to the substation and the receipt of a reply signal. This reply signal has a frequency and amplitude substantially lower than the information signals sent by other substations (S1, S2) of the system to avoid interference therewith. During a subsequent fine measurement the main station measures the time interval between the sending of a second ranging signal and the receipt of a second reply signal having the same characteristics as the information signals. The other substations have to stop transmission of signals during an interval equal to the uncertainty time interval with which the equalisation delay was measured during the coarse measurement. To be able to apply this method, the receiver at the main station includes means to isolate (AZ) the first reply signal from the information signals and to recognize (COR) them, and a processing unit (PU) to determine the equalisation delay.