A mobile station receives a target pilot signal transmitted by a target transmitter in a spread spectrum communication system and measures its phase. The mobile station then defines a search window to search for the target pilot signal at a later time. The mobile station defines the center point of the search window based on the previously-measured phase and the mobile station's direction of motion and speed relative to the target transmitter. If the mobile station is moving toward the target transmitter, the center point is less than the previously-measured phase by an adjustment amount. If the mobile station is moving away from the target transmitter, the center point is greater than the previously-measured phase by an adjustment amount. The adjustment amount may depend on the mobile station's speed. After the search window is defined, the mobile station uses the search window to search for the target pilot signal.