Abstract: At the transmit end of a communications system, a convolutional code of a multiplex of an information-bearing signal and a unique word is modulated upon a transmitted carrier. At the receive end, the transmitted carrier is demodulated with a local carrier to detect the convolutional code. The error rate of a decoded version of the convolutional code is determined, and an out-of-FEC-sync signal is produced when the error rate is higher than a threshold value. Unique words are detected from the decoded signal and counted during a prescribed time interval to produce an out-of-frame-sync signal when the count falls below a threshold. The frequency of the local carrier is swept in the presence of the out-of-FEC-sync signal. When the signal ceases to exist, a timeout period is set, and the local carrier frequency is swept again when the timeout period expires during the presence of the out-of-frame-sync signal.