The present invention relates to a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) method for transmitting data packets from a transmitting entity to a receiving entity via a data channel. Further, the present invention is related to mobile stations, base stations, radio network controllers and communication systems performing in the HARQ method. To overcome problems resulting from asynchronous retransmissions, the present invention provides a HARQ method sending retransmissions synchronous. According to the method, a feedback message is received from the receiving entity at the transmitting entity and, in case the feedback message indicates that the data packet has not been received successfully, a retransmission data packet is transmitted to the receiving entity after a predetermined time span upon having received said feedback message. The receiving entity soft combines the retransmission data packet with the previously received data packet.