This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for an initial network acquisition process via multiple antennas. In one aspect a method of establishing communications via a wireless network at a wireless communications apparatus is provided. The method includes attempting an initial acquisition process, over one or more frequencies, for establishing communications over the wireless network via a transmit circuit and a receive circuit transmitting and receiving via a first antenna. The method further includes switching the transmit circuit and the receive circuit from transmitting and receiving via the first antenna to a second antenna in response to detecting failure of the initial acquisition process. The switching is independent of a performance metric of the first or the second antenna. The method further includes re-attempting the initial acquisition process based on the switching to the second antenna over the one or more frequencies.