A cognitive radio (CR) system (102) includes CR units (108, 110) that determine and update location-based system operating parameters to avoid interference with other systems operating in the same frequency band. Operational Location Uncertainty region and Allowed Location Error regions can be applied. The CR unit trades off between both, available channels and maximum system operating parameters, such that as Location Uncertainty of the CR device increases, available CR channels and location-based CR system operating parameters decrease over a maximum network reach.