Systems and methods for tracking of a private communication system subject to retuning

Methods and systems are provided for tracking of a private communication system allowing operation of a mobile terminal with both a public communication system and the private communication system even when the private communication system retunes its control channel while not in communication with the mobile terminal. This automatic selection of the new control channel for the private communication system is provided by communication of both the current control channel frequency and one or more candidate control channel frequencies which will be used in turn by the private radio communication system in retunes. These candidate frequencies are originally provided to the mobile terminal, for example, when it first establishes a connection with the private communication system. The candidate control channel frequency information is updated during periods when the mobile terminal is connected to the private communication system. When the mobile terminal subsequently leaves the coverage area of the private communication system and then returns to find that the control channel previously used is no longer in use, it attempts to establish a connection using the candidate control channel frequencies. Accordingly, the mobile terminal is able to respond to retunes occurring while it is not in communication with the private communication system without the need for user intervention.