Methods and apparatus are provided for use in devices adapted to receive signals from at least one satellite positioning system (SPS). As part of at least one search for a transmission from a space vehicle (SV) associated with the SPS, the methods and apparatuses may correlate a code associated with the SV with a received signal to establish a plurality of correlation values, sample at least a portion of the correlation values during the search, and selectively transitioning the search early or prematurely based, at least in part, on at least one of the sampled correlation values.