Abstract: A pulse-listen electronic article security (EAS) system for detecting the presence of a security tag within a detection zone is disclosed. The EAS system includes a transmitter for radiating a first electromagnetic signal into the detection zone. The first electromagnetic signal is a time sequence of RF bursts emitted during each of a plurality of contiguous frame intervals in which the duration of each of the frame intervals is one of a plurality of different values. The EAS system also includes a receiver synchronized with the transmitter for receiving a second electromagnetic signal re-radiated from a security tag in the detection zone in response to the first electromagnetic signal. The receiver provides an output signal if a security tag is detected.