A selection diversity system and method for use in a TDMA (time division multiple access) radio system, particularly suited for DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) applications, in which a single receiver makes a performance measurement on each of two antennas in sequence during the beginning of a received data burst, the beginning of the burst being determined by a timing signal fed back from a previous burst. A slicing level used in the receiver to perform threshold detection is continuously improved during the measurements of the two antennas, but held while switching between the antennas. The previously unused antenna is measured first to minimize the likelihood of having to perform two antenna switches.