A subscriber makes its hand-off decision based on time difference measurements between synchronization markers received from adjacent repeaters relative to the synchronization markers received from the subscriber's assigned repeater. The subscriber uses signal quality measurements to identify candidate repeaters with adequate signal level, and the time difference measurements to decide which of these repeaters is geographically closest. Thus, the subscriber unit makes hand-off decisions as its movement closes the distance to an adjacent repeater that can provide an adequate signal level.