Methods and systems are provided for manually configuring low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) coverage using an associated mobile station. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a user command of a first type, responsively enters a coverage-configuration mode, and then receives from a mobile station a series of user commands of a second type, each instructing the LCIB to engage in a power-calibration call with the mobile station. Responsively, the LCIB engages in a respective series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station, each call comprising the LCIB identifying a minimum transmission-power level at which a forward-link frame error rate (FFER) for the mobile station is less than a FFER threshold. The LCIB sets a transmission-power level for a pilot beacon (i.e. configures its coverage) based at least in part on the maximum transmission-power level among the minimum transmission-power levels identified while engaging in the series of power-calibration calls.