In some embodiments, if the device has obtained multiple random access configurations corresponding to multiple sets of allowed random access resources, the device may first select which of those sets to select from. For example, such a selection may be based on the measurement results corresponding to the different sync references, as described in the operation 106 of FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the network may decide based on which sync reference the device will perform random access. In LTE, for example, the UE may initially choose to which cell to perform random access, typically based on the measurement results. Then the UE would apply the random access configuration of that cell and select a corresponding resource. During handover, on the other hand, the serving cell decides to which cell the UE should perform random access.