Paging method and apparatus

A two-way paging system utilizes four local frequencies for transmissions between pager units (22) and a central control station (20). A first local frequency (f1) carries a local clock; a second local frequency (f2) carries communications packets from the central control station to paging units; a third local frequency (f3) carries communication packets from the pager units to the central control station; and a fourth local frequency (f4) carries a status or request signal from the paging units (22) to the central control station (20). Transmissions on the fourth local frequency (f4) are in accordance with a time divided slot allocation among pager units accessing the central control station (20). For a two-way paging system having a plurality of central control stations (420x) servicing a corresponding plurality of cells, a total of eight frequencies are utilized within any one cell. Four of the utilized frequencies are the local frequencies (f1-f4) [which may differ from cell to cell], and four of the utilized frequencies are lower power common frequencies or switching frequencies (C1-C4) which are used to switch or hand-off a pager unit (422) traveling from one cell to another.