The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for extending battery life in a radio frequency (“RF”) wireless modem by automatically commanding the RF modem into a low power, auto-sleep-no-coverage mode when coverage is not available. The auto-sleep-no-coverage mode timing is configurable through software parameters in the operating system of the modem. The invention conforms to the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) Specification and increases the standby time of the device outside the coverage area to that similar to the standby time when the modem is within a coverage area. One embodiment of the present invention uses two software programmable timers and a preferred embodiment of the invention uses three software programmable timers and a counter.