A method of communicating using multiple data streams comprising the steps of: encoding a first data stream with a first spreading code (344; 860) to form a first spread data stream, wherein the first data stream is encoded by a first channel encoder (324a; 824a) and modulated by a first modulator (326a; 826a) prior to encoding with the first spreading code (344; 860); transmitting the first spread data stream from at least first and second antennas (332a, 334a; 850a, 851a); encoding a second data stream with the first spreading code (344; 860) to form a second spread data stream, wherein the second data stream is encoded by a second channel encoder (324b; 824b) and modulated by a second modulator (326b; 826b) prior to encoding with the first spreading code (344; 860); transmitting the second spread data stream from at least third and fourth antennas (332b, 334b; 850b, 851b); receiving as a first received signal at a fifth antenna (412a; 912a) the first and second spread data streams from the first, second, third and fourth antennas; receiving as a second received signal at a sixth antenna (412b; 912b) the first and second spread data streams from the first, second, third and fourth antennas; despreading the first and second received signals using the first spreading code, to form first and second despread received signals; processing the first despread received signal to form tentative decisions as to the content of the first despread received signal; processing the second despread received signal to form tentative decisions as to the content of the second despread received signal; and further processing the first and second despread received signals together to form a first received data signal and a second received data signal, wherein the second data stream is independent from the first data stream. encoding a first data stream with a first spreading code (344; 860) to form a first spread data stream, wherein the first data stream is encoded by a first channel encoder (324a; 824a) and modulated by a first modulator (326a; 826a) prior to encoding with the first spreading code (344; 860); transmitting the first spread data stream from at least first and second antennas (332a, 334a; 850a, 851a); encoding a second data stream with the first spreading code (344; 860) to form a second spread data stream, wherein the second data stream is encoded by a second channel encoder (324b; 824b) and modulated by a second modulator (326b; 826b) prior to encoding with the first spreading code (344; 860); transmitting the second spread data stream from at least third and fourth antennas (332b, 334b; 850b, 851b); receiving as a first received signal at a fifth antenna (412a; 912a) the first and second spread data streams from the first, second, third and fourth antennas; receiving as a second received signal at a sixth antenna (412b; 912b) the first and second spread data streams from the first, second, third and fourth antennas; despreading the first and second received signals using the first spreading code, to form first and second despread received signals; processing the first despread received signal to form tentative decisions as to the content of the first despread received signal; processing the second despread received signal to form tentative decisions as to the content of the second despread received signal; and further processing the first and second despread received signals together to form a first received data signal and a second received data signal, wherein the second data stream is independent from the first data stream.