A technique for network entry in multi-channel mobile systems is described. The procedure utilizes the channel specific information sent in the beacon of each channel to select a subset of suitable channels. It then proceeds to scan these channels to gather information on perceived interference and received signal strength. Based on collected information the device picks the most suitable channel for joining the network. Since the channels to be scanned are pre-selected based on information seen in the beacon, the overall scan latency is reduced, thereby leading to a faster and more successful network entry.