Apparatus for encoding and decoding a digital radio signal

A radio communication system having two or more transmitters for transmitting data messages intended for at least one selective call receiver using radio signals, comprising:

• a system controller for encoding data information to generate the data messages which have periodic error protection at one or more burst error frequencies, wherein the system controller transmits one or more of the data messages to at least two transmitters for simultaneous transmission of one or more of the data messages;
• a first transmitter having a first radio carrier frequency for transmitting a first of the one or more data messages;
• and
• a second transmitter for simultaneously transmitting a second of the one or more data messages, wherein said second transmitter has a second radio carrier frequency which is offset from the first radio carrier frequency by an offset frequency substantially equivalent to one of the one or more burst error frequencies.