Method and apparatus for transmission path delay measurements using adaptive demodulation

A simulcast transmission system (100) utilizes adaptive demodulation to provide a method and apparatus for automatic delay equalization measurements. The simulcast transmission system (100) comprises a control station (101), and a plurality of remote transmission stations (201, 301) capable of re-transmitting a received delay equalization measurement signal which includes at least a correction bit pattern signal followed by a synchronization pattern signal. The control station (101) comprises a transmitter (131, 181) which transmits the delay equalization measurement signal, a receiver (151, 191) which receives the re-transmitted delay equalization measurement signal, a correlator (115, 762) which correlates the received synchronization pattern signal to obtain a coarse time of reception, a correction bit pattern analyzer (115, 776-802) which analyzes the received correction bit pattern signal to derive a fine reception time correction factor, and a time corrector (115, 804) which corrects the coarse time of reception with the fine reception time correction factor to obtain a corrected time of reception of the delay equalization measurement signal at the control station (101).