A transmitter (22) of a telecommunications system transmits hopped pilot signals as a distinct (i.e., locally unique) time-frequency shift of a time frequency plane array wherein the pilot signals are hopped using a hopping sequence. Differing transmitters of the system (20) preferably transmit using different time-frequency shifts of the same time frequency plane array. The transmitter (22) knows which hopping sequence to employ to generate the time frequency plane array in view of its storage of the hopping sequence, and further knows how to perform its signature time-frequency shift the time frequency plane array thusly created in view of its storage of the time-frequency shift pattern. A receiver (24) identifies a transmitter from which the receiver obtains signals by detecting the particular time-frequency shift of the time frequency plane array and associating the particular time-frequency shift with the originating transmitter. Upon detecting the time frequency plane array of its received signals, the receiver (24), which knows the hopping sequence employed to generate the time frequency plane array, can determine how the time frequency plane array has been time-frequency shifted, and upon determining the pattern of the shift can associate the received signals with one of the transmitters for which the receiver (24) has stored time-frequency shift patterns in its library (86).