One or more aspects of the present disclosure aim to enable a reduced call drop rate and/or improved call performance in calls using 3GPP Release 99 Dedicated Physical Channel (DPCH) signaling, while reducing, or at least not causing a substantially large rise in power consumption at a wireless device, by utilizing selection diversity at a receiver. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a UE invokes a measurement period for detecting a downlink dedicated control channel (DCCH) based on a condition of a radio channel, during an initial portion of a transmission time interval (TTI). The UE samples one or more characteristics of a radio channel utilizing one or more of a plurality of receive chains. If the DCCH is detected during the measurement period, the UE selects one or more receive chains from among the plurality of receive chains in accordance with the one or more sampled characteristics. The UE receives a downlink transmission utilizing the selected one or more receive chains.