A CDMA communication system (400) includes a plurality of base stations (410, 420 and 430) transmitting at least a corresponding plurality of pilot signals. A mobile station (401) in a coverage area of the system (400) receives at least one of the plurality of pilot signals and transmits a Pilot Strength Measurement Message that includes a Neighbor Set of a list of a plurality of candidate pilots for a and-off routine. A method and apparatus for determining the Neighbor Set includes finding a location of the mobile station (401) in the coverage area of system (400) and determining the list of plurality of candidate pilots in the Neighbor Set according to the location of the mobile station (401).