A system and method of conducting wireless communications between a wireless communication device (WCD) and both a first network (e.g., IS-2000) supporting voice and data services and a second network (e.g., IS-856) supporting packet data services. The method comprises providing the WCD with a primary transceiver and a secondary receiver for conducting wireless communications in a spatial diversity for the second network traffic or broadcast; disabling the secondary receiver and spatial diversity before a paging slot or 1x system acquisition and synchronization attempts; tuning the secondary receiver to a first network carrier frequency to perform first network activities; and retuning the secondary receiver to a second network carrier frequency for spatial diversity after performing the first network activities. The first network activities may include pilot set maintenance, overhead message maintenance, page match detection, or 1x system acquisition and synchronization attempts.