Filtered wireless communications

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a method and apparatus for filtered wireless communications is provided. The method provides a filtered wireless zone. Signaling channels normally serving a geographic vicinity are scanned, with the channel identity and the system identity of each signaling channel recorded. A transmitter-receiver is commanded to such channel. A signaling channel marker is radiated. A new signaling channel assignment message is sent, sending handsets to a new capture channel. An appropriate signal is radiated to keep the handsets locked to the new capture channel. The transmitter-receiver then ceases radiating on the first channel, and proceeds to the second external signaling channel previously recorded. The transmitter-receiver repeats this process for all the external signaling channels previously located.