A method for improving the ability to detect passive beacon receiver devices is disclosed. According to the method, a beacon communication system which comprises one or more short-range wireless beacon transmitter devices, at least one of which is configured to repeatedly transmit a short-range wireless beacon advertisement signal on a first beacon broadcast channel, is operated by causing a device among the short-range wireless beacon transmitter devices to temporarily transmit a short-range wireless beacon refresh signal on a second beacon broadcast channel. The beacon refresh signal is adapted to cause one or more short-range wireless beacon receiver devices being in a passive mode to enter into a short-range wireless beacon scanning mode.