Methods and apparatus for setting timing of sampling of one or more symbols. The disclosed methods account for at least three types of effective interference (EI) and are used to set the timing of a sampling window for sampling received symbols. The methods includes setting timing based on determining an energy density function accounting for both static and dynamic EI, determining the minimum of a total energy profile and sliding the sampling window to ensure that the minimum point is at a predetermined point, and determining and using a composite energy profile accounting for short term and long term fading effects. The disclosed apparatus include a transceiver employing one or more of the disclosed methods for setting timing when receiving the symbols.