Abstract: An improvement to a communications system such as a satellite communications system, or the like, wherein a plurality of nodes transmit over a common path on a time sharing basis via a central hub. The method and apparatus permits closer spacing of the communications from the nodes on the path and eliminates wasted delay time. The method comprises designating one of the nodes as the reference node and the remaining nodes as slave nodes. A transmission sequence is begun by having the reference node transmit a repeating, pre-established, pseudo-random, digital sequence at a pre-established bit rate. The reference node continues its sequence, but then omits a portion between the start and end of the sequence. A slave node wishing to join the transmission sequence begins the same repeating, pre-established, pseudo-random, digital sequence at approximately the same pre-established bit rate and then starts transmitting an approximation of the portion of the sequence being omitted by the reference node.