Dual system cellular cordless radiotelephone apparatus with sub-data channel timing monitor

A cellular cordless telephone may receive cellular telephone calls via a cellular telephone system and receive telephone calls on a system having a limited radio coverage area. To reduce the amount of time spent in monitoring the sub-data channel of the limited coverage area system, a timing signal is generated which represents the period of time spent monitoring the radio channel. During the monitoring, a predetermined number of data words transmitted on the limited radio coverage area radio channel system are received. When a first received data word is detected, an allowed monitoring time value is adjusted to be the sum of the value of the timing signal and the product of a determined number of received words to be detected and the time required for each word. This adjusted value of the monitoring time value is compared to the value of the timing signal and when the adjusted monitoring time value equals or exceeds the timing signal value, the monitoring of the radio channel ceases.