Wireless access system using selectively adaptable beam forming in TDD frames and method of operation

For use in a wireless access network comprising a plurality of base stations, each of said plurality of base stations capable of bidirectional time division duplex (TDD) communication with wireless access devices disposed at a plurality of subscriber premises in an associated cell site of said wireless access network, a transceiver associated with a first of said plurality of base stations comprising:

• transmit path circuitry associated with a beam forming network capable of transmitting directed scanning beam signals each directed to substantially only wireless access devices within a different one of a plurality of sectors of a cell site associated with said first base station, wherein said transmit path circuitry
• transmits, at a start of a TDD frame, a broadcast beam signal to wireless access devices within more than one of said sectors, the broadcast beam signal comprising a start of frame field, and
• subsequently transmits, in a downlink portion of said TDD frame, first downlink data traffic to substantially only wireless access devices within one of said sectors using one of said directed scanning beam signals.