Abstract: A two way radio communication system (20) includes a plurality of radio units (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) communicating via at least one communication resource (34, 36). At least one first radio unit (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the plurality of radio units includes a receiver (48) for monitoring available resources of the at least one communication resource (34, 36) and a processor (46) for maintaining a prioritized list (45) of said available at least one communication resources and for selecting the highest priority available communication resource when the at least one radio unit (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) wishes to enter into communication with at least one second radio unit of the plurality of radio units. In this manner, an optimized communication resource is selected for the communication.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining current channel state information in a communications system having a first communications unit communicating to a second communications unit, wherein the first communications unit sends a channel sounding packet (32) to the second communications unit. The channel sounding packet (32) is sent a time period, t, prior to the transmission of a signal by the second communications unit to the first communications unit. The second communications unit receives the channel sounding packet (46) and processes the channel sounding packet to determine at least one channel characteristic. In response to receiving the channel sounding packet (46) the second communications unit appends frame code information (48) to the signal to be transmitted from the second communications unit to the first communications unit, to inform the first communications unit of the communications parameters that have been optimized.