A wireless communication (120) device for placing calls within a wireless communication system (100) on a plurality of channels is provided. The wireless communication unit (120) includes a transceiver (204) for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals on the plurality of channels, a signal detector (220), a network scanner (222) and a controller (206). The signal detector (220) detects whether a call on one of the plurality of channels has been dropped (304). The network scanner (222) controls which of the plurality of channels the transceiver receives signals on and which of the plurality of channels the transceiver transmits signals on. The controller (206) automatically increases a scan rate (308) of the network scanner (222) in response to the signal detector (220) determining that the call has been dropped (304).