A method of synchronizing with an uplink channel and a method of determining a propagation delay in a wireless communications system are provided. In the example method of synchronizing, a propagation delay between a target base station and a mobile station is calculated. Then, the calculated propagation delay is sent to the target base station. In the example method of determining a propagation delay, a first signal is received indicating a first measured chip offset between a downlink channel of a serving base station and a pilot signal of the target base station. A second signal indicating a second measured chip offset between an uplink channel of the mobile station and a pilot signal of the target base station is then received. A propagation delay between the target base station and the mobile station is calculated based at least in part on the first and second measured chip offsets.