In general, a method performed on a personal base station includes transmitting a first pilot signal to a portable access terminal operating in an idle mode in a macrocell that uses a first carrier frequency. The first pilot signal is transmitted in the first carrier frequency to allow the portable access terminal to temporarily connect to the first pilot signal. A second pilot signal is transmitted in a second frequency that is different than the first frequency. The portable access terminal is dispelled from the first pilot signal, and the portable access terminal is allowed to connect to the second pilot signal.