Channel and correlation characteristics are determined for a composite signal. Respective combining weights for information from the composite signal are determined for respective ones of a plurality of candidate delays based on the determined channel and correlation characteristics. A group of delays, e.g., RAKE correlator delays or chip equalizer filter taps, is selected from the plurality of candidate delays based on the determined weights. Information from the composite signal for the selected delays is processed according to a spreading code to generate a symbol estimate. The invention may be embodied as methods, apparatus and computer program products.