A method and apparatus for obtaining overhead information by a mobile is provided herein. During operation, the mobile will be communicating with a first system on an active data channel. The mobile node will be able to measure pilot PN phase and amplitude for a second system that is a potential candidate to handoff and will have that information available. The data channel of the active service is used to query a proxy server that provides overhead information for the second base station. More particularly, when PN phase and amplitude information is provided to the proxy server, the proxy server will identify the base station and provide the overhead information needed to associate with the second base station.