Systems and methods relating to detecting one or more characteristics (e.g., a carrier type or a carrier mode) of a carrier signal transmitted by a radio access node of a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of operation of a wireless device includes receiving a carrier signal transmitted by a radio access node and detecting, in the carrier signal, a first physical signal that primarily supports synchronization and cell identification and a second physical signal that supports a functionality other than synchronization and cell identification. A time-domain spacing between the first and second physical signals is a function of a characteristic of the carrier signal. The method further includes determining a characteristic of the carrier signal based on a time-domain spacing between the first and second physical signals detected in the carrier signal.