The present invention expands the range over which a wireless powered communication device (500) and device reader (12) can communicate. In the present invention, circuitry (502) within the device (500) provides for determining a characteristic of the received communication signal. Based upon this signal characteristic data recovery parameters are adapted to enhance data recovery over a maximize communication distance. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnitude of the power signal is observed. It is known that the power signal varies as an inverse square of the distance of the device (500) to the reader. From this information, a data detection threshold is adjusted to enhance data recovery.