A method of selecting a cell for handover of a mobile station to another communication system. A command is sent to a mobile station from a first network element. The command includes a request to perform compressed mode measurements at the mobile station of a neighboring cell. The neighboring cell uses a different communication means than the first network element. Compressed mode measurement results are received from the mobile station at the first network element. The received compressed mode measurement results are weighted with indicators of a prioritized neighbor cell list to form a prioritized list. A second command is sent to the mobile station from the first network element. The second command includes a second request to decode identification codes at the mobile station based on the prioritized list. An indicator of a suitable cell from the prioritized list is received from the mobile station at the first network element. An instruction is sent to the mobile station from the first network element after receiving the indicator. The instruction stops decoding identification codes at the mobile station.