Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a carrier frequency of an incoming signal. The carrier frequency estimator determines the phase difference between the phases for two successive modulation symbols when the two successive modulation symbols are within a particular magnitude range having at least two evenly spaced modulation phase states. The carrier frequency estimator includes a magnitude selector for selecting modulation symbols within the particular magnitude range and a phase subtractor coupled to the magnitude selector for determining phase differences between the successive modulation symbol phases. A signal receiver of the present invention uses the phase differences for tuning a locally generated frequency for tracking a carrier frequency of an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal.