A measurement gap enhancement method is disclosed for use in both synchronous and asynchronous networks. The measurement gap enhancement method employs a first measurement gap pattern, suitable for synchronous networks, including measurement gaps that are of shorter duration and available for more frequency measurements than in legacy implementations. The measurement gap enhancement method also employs a second measurement gap pattern, which also includes short duration measurement gaps, but is also characterized by flexible measurement gap repetition periods suited to asynchronous networks. The first and second measurement gap patterns are made known to an user equipment by way of novel information elements used during RRC connection reconfiguration by the enhanced NodeB base station. The measurement gap enhancement method enables the user equipment to maintain its radio frequency setting between measurements, particularly automatic gain control.