A method of determining channel quality information for one or more signals received by the wireless communication device over a transmit propagation channel associated with the wireless communication device, the method comprising: in a first mode, generating channel quality information according to a first algorithm that does not depend on current propagation channel estimates by mapping a receiver input signal quality for the wireless communication device to a data rate selection that is achievable at a desired probability over a range of propagation channel conditions using a Cumulative Distribution Function, CDF, and the receiver input signal quality to identify a data rate that is achievable with respect to a desired error limit over a range of hypothesized propagation channel realizations; in a second mode, generating channel quality information according to a second algorithm that depends on current propagation channel estimates comprising mapping a receiver input signal quality for the wireless communication device to a data rate selection that is achievable for propagation channel conditions corresponding to the current propagation channel estimates by mapping receiver input signal quality to a data rate that can be supported for a particular propagation channel realization corresponding to the current propagation channel estimates, or to a constrained range of propagation channel conditions corresponding to the current propagation channel estimates; and determining whether to operate in the first mode or in the second mode responsive to evaluating a reliability of propagation channel estimates made by the wireless communication device, wherein the channel quality information is generated as feedback for transmit link adaptation. in a first mode, generating channel quality information according to a first algorithm that does not depend on current propagation channel estimates by mapping a receiver input signal quality for the wireless communication device to a data rate selection that is achievable at a desired probability over a range of propagation channel conditions using a Cumulative Distribution Function, CDF, and the receiver input signal quality to identify a data rate that is achievable with respect to a desired error limit over a range of hypothesized propagation channel realizations; in a second mode, generating channel quality information according to a second algorithm that depends on current propagation channel estimates comprising mapping a receiver input signal quality for the wireless communication device to a data rate selection that is achievable for propagation channel conditions corresponding to the current propagation channel estimates by mapping receiver input signal quality to a data rate that can be supported for a particular propagation channel realization corresponding to the current propagation channel estimates, or to a constrained range of propagation channel conditions corresponding to the current propagation channel estimates; and determining whether to operate in the first mode or in the second mode responsive to evaluating a reliability of propagation channel estimates made by the wireless communication device, wherein the channel quality information is generated as feedback for transmit link adaptation.