The present invention provides a method for use in a UMTS receiver of detecting a signal transmitted by a UMTS transmitter which includes determining whether the signal is greater than or equal to at least a first power threshold value when the signal is below an initial detection threshold value, and informing the transmitter when the signal is greater than or equal to the first power threshold value such that the transmitter can increase a signal strength of the signal by a first predetermined amount and re-transmit. In another aspect of the invention, a method for use in a UMTS transmitter of power ramping a signal transmitted by the transmitter and received by a UMTS receiver includes increasing a signal strength of the signal by a first predetermined amount when informed by the receiver that the signal is greater than or equal to a first power threshold value but below an initial detection threshold value, and re-transmitting the signal.