A method and apparatus of adjusting a search window size by a remote unit in a slotted mode wireless communication system. In a slotted mode communication system, the remote unit is in an "active state" during its assigned slot. While in the active state the controller in a remote unit passes selected sets of search parameters to a search engine. The search engine performs searches on base stations using the selected sets of search parameters (230). One search parameter, the search window size, is adjusted in response to a measured signal strength of a first base station signal (260). The adjusted search window size is used by the remote unit when searching other base stations (270).