A method transmits data packets in a radio system between an emitter and a receiver. A nominal energy is defined for each data packet and each transmission according to a quality requirement for the reception by the receiver. An emission power required for each data packet is determined according to the quality requirement for the reception of the data packet. The transmission data packet is formed from a plurality of data packets. A first transmission emission power is defined for a first transmission of the transmission data packet according to the determined emission powers for the individual data packet. The first transmission of the transmission data packet is carried out with the first transmission emission power. A retransmission emission power is calculated according to a nominal transmission power derived from the nominal energy, for the transmission data packet and the emission power for at least one previous transmission of the transmission data packet.