Out-of-sync and in-sync detections and downlink power control by UTRAN user equipment are improved in Continuous Packet Connectivity mode featuring discontinuous UL DPCCH transmission by requiring all F-DPCH transmissions from a base station to the user equipment to be valid during a UL DTX gated period. Additionally, the user equipment receives and considers all F-DPCH transmissions during the UL DTX gated period, for power control, out-of-sync and in-sync detections. If the user equipment detects an out-of-sync condition, it may immediately transmit a scheduling request to notify the network, temporarily or permanently annulling the discontinuous UL DPCCH transmission.