Abstract: Bit timing references are derived at a receiver for a carrier modulated by OQPSK. A carrier is transmitted with a constant reference phase modulation during a first interval. During a subsequent, second interval the carrier is transmitted with rotational phase modulation representing binary bit values so that orthogonal components phase modulate the carrier with a predetermined bit sequence. A receiver responds to the constant phase modulated carrier to lock the frequency and phase of a phase lock loop oscillator of a carrier recovery loop. Synchronization at the receiver is achieved in response to a reception of the rotational phase modulation, while maintaining the frequency and phase lock. A carrier recovery loop of the receiver is activated to a decision directed operation after bit synchronization has been achieved.