A method for generating an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM, physical layer, PHY, data unit for transmission via a communication channel, the method comprising: generating a signal field (306; 406; 500; 600) to include a first subfield (524; 614) having one of i) a length indication to indicate a number of bytes in a data portion of the data unit, or ii) a duration indication to indicate a number of OFDM symbols in the data portion of the data unit, and a second subfield (525; 612) to indicate whether the first subfield includes the length indication or the duration indication; when the second subfield indicates (1004; 1102) that the first subfield includes the length indication, adding one or more padding bits (356; 456; 512; 532; 624; 700; 800; 900) to a set of information bits to generate a set of padded information bits according to a first padding scheme; when the second subfield indicates (1006; 1104) that the first subfield includes the duration indication, adding one or more padding bits (356; 456; 512; 532; 624; 700; 800; 900) to the set of information bits to generate the set of padded information bits according to a second padding scheme (704, 706), the second padding scheme different than the first padding scheme; encoding (1008; 1106) the set of padded information bits with one or more binary convolutional coding, BCC, encoders or one or more low density parity check, LDPC encoders to generate a set of encoded information bits; generating (1010; 1108) a plurality of OFDM symbols to include the set of encoded information bits; and generating the data unit to include the plurality of OFDM symbols. generating a signal field (306; 406; 500; 600) to include a first subfield (524; 614) having one of i) a length indication to indicate a number of bytes in a data portion of the data unit, or ii) a duration indication to indicate a number of OFDM symbols in the data portion of the data unit, and a second subfield (525; 612) to indicate whether the first subfield includes the length indication or the duration indication; a first subfield (524; 614) having one of i) a length indication to indicate a number of bytes in a data portion of the data unit, or ii) a duration indication to indicate a number of OFDM symbols in the data portion of the data unit, and a second subfield (525; 612) to indicate whether the first subfield includes the length indication or the duration indication; when the second subfield indicates (1004; 1102) that the first subfield includes the length indication, adding one or more padding bits (356; 456; 512; 532; 624; 700; 800; 900) to a set of information bits to generate a set of padded information bits according to a first padding scheme; when the second subfield indicates (1006; 1104) that the first subfield includes the duration indication, adding one or more padding bits (356; 456; 512; 532; 624; 700; 800; 900) to the set of information bits to generate the set of padded information bits according to a second padding scheme (704, 706), the second padding scheme different than the first padding scheme; encoding (1008; 1106) the set of padded information bits with one or more binary convolutional coding, BCC, encoders or one or more low density parity check, LDPC encoders to generate a set of encoded information bits; generating (1010; 1108) a plurality of OFDM symbols to include the set of encoded information bits; and generating the data unit to include the plurality of OFDM symbols.