Selective call receiver and method for detecting mandatory frames of a channel protocol

A communication device comprising:

• receiver means for receiving coded messages transmitted on one or more channels;
• processing means, in communication with said receiver means, for processing one or more of said messages;
• channel control means coupled to both said processing means and said receiver means, said channel control means being adapted to control said receiver means to thereby control reception of said channels;
• and
• a memory means storing a group of channel frequencies, said memory means being coupled to said processing means;
• wherein said processing means is adapted, in combination with said control means, to control said receiver means to scan at least some of said channels during baud detect periods of a protocol cycle associated with at least one of said channels, and
• wherein said processing means cyclically offsets a start of said baud detect periods after completion of a protocol cycle, and wherein said processing means is adapted to cyclically offset said start of said baud detect periods by an offset period, said offset period being relative to a start time of a sample interval length that is divisible, without a remainder, by said offset period.