A wireless spread spectrum base station has a plurality of modems. The modems produce at least one baseband channel signal and a baseband reference signal. At least one forward power controller controls a power level of the at least one baseband channel signal. A baseband signal combiner combines the at least one baseband channel and baseband reference signals. A radio frequency transmitter modulates to radio frequency and transmits the combined signal. A reference power control processor determines a desired transmit power level of the baseband reference signal to the desired transmit power level.