Transmission determination of a primary and a secondary pilot channel depending on the data rate

A method and apparatus provides for efficient data rate control and power control processes by transmitting a primary and a secondary pilot channel associated with a data channel in the reverse (uplink) link. The primary and secondary pilot channels are used for decoding the data. A ratio of power levels of the primary and secondary pilot channels is based on at least one of the data rate and payload size of the data channel. It is determined whether the transmission of the primary pilot channel and the secondary pilot channel associated with the data channel is necessary based on comparing one of the data rate and the payload size of the channel in the reverse link to a predetermined value. The power level of the primary pilot channel is maintained independent of at least one of data rate and payload size of the data channel. The power level of the secondary pilot channel may be adjusted based on at least one of data rate and payload size of the data channel.