Measurement of channel characterisitics in a communication system

A communication system comprises a downlink data channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station to a secondary station and uplink and downlink control channels. The secondary station measures one or more characteristics of the data channel and issues a report to the primary station, which determines an operational parameter of the data channel in response to the report. The secondary station determines average channel characteristics over a measurement period. The length of the measurement period may be signalled by the primary station or determined directly by the secondary station. In one embodiment the selected period depends on the speed (V) of the secondary station. This is determined ( 604 ) by either station and tested to determine ( 606 ) whether it is outside the range for the current measurement period: if it is the period is reset ( 608 ).