Each transmission frame within a spread spectrum communications system relating to synchronization code transmission is divided into a plurality of slots. Each of the slots includes a primary (pilot) code c.sub.p and a secondary (combined) code c.sub.s/lci that includes information identifying or indicative of both a frame timing and a scrambling code for synchronization. This information concerning frame timing and scrambling code may be encoded in the combined code c.sub.s/lci itself, as well as in the modulation values of the sequences of plural combined codes within a frame. Alternatively, the information is encoded in the sequence of plural combined codes c.sub.s/lci transmitted in each frame, as well as in the modulated values of the sequences of plural combined codes within a frame. As yet another alternative, the information is encoded in the timing of the combined code c.sub.s/lci transmission within each slot of the frame relative to its associated primary code c.sub.p.