The present invention provides a method of processing radio frequency (RF) bursts dependent on a speech mode associated with data contained within the RF burst. Different voice modes, full rate, half rate, and adaptive multi-channel rates each may require different signal to noise ratio (SNR) conditions in order to be successfully processed. To improve the equalization of the received RF burst(s), the SNR associated with the burst is estimated. Then based on the SNR or other related conditions (i.e. the presence or absence of colored noise, and the estimated channel profile) a decision can be made as to whether or not an interference cancellation burst process should be implemented. For example, the presence of colored noise may indicate the presence of interference requiring the cancellation of such interference, the channel profile as described by the channel length and other associated properties may help determine when an interference cancellation process should be utilized as well, and if there is insufficient SNR, i.e. the SNR is below the predetermined threshold, all indicate that it may be desirable to implement interference cancellation to improve the processing of the received burst(s).