A technique for steering a directional antenna such as may be used with User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. Optimum angle settings for the directional antenna are determined as different values for an uplink and downlink; that is for simple reception and simple transmission. Thus, rather than determine compromised directions that are picked in an attempt to optimize transmission and reception with the same directional setting, directional settings may be optimized independently. The invention is of particular use in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system where transmit and receive functions can be operating independently at different times. In further aspects, an optimum direction is determined by estimating an interference signal power which is detected from signals emanating from adjacent base stations (access points) and determining a directional setting that minimizes interference to adjacent cells based upon such measurements. A further level of sophistication in antenna angle setting, is to monitor the loading of adjacent cell sites base stations and turning interference and determine the settings accordingly to minimize interference to such heavily loaded neighbors. Further aspects of the invention adapts to acquisition modes that accommodate the directional setting in active use of the system.