A single, common correlation filter (CF) core is provided in a receiver for recovery of data from received code division multiple access (CDMA) signals. Signals are received over CDMA channels with different data rates, where the received signals include user information such as pilot and data symbols that have been spread according to different despreading rates including tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 rates, where tier 1 is the smallest despreading rate. The received signal is correlated at the smallest despreading rate in the correlation filter (CF) by time multiplexing delayed versions of the pseudorandom noise (PN) code. The correlated information is then demultiplexed and pilot-aided QPSK demodulated. The demodulated information is summed at the proper integer multiple of the tier 1 rate to achieve tier 2 and tier 3 despreading rates. According to an embodiment, the three strongest multipaths components in terms of the received power are selected in a window or time period for optimal information recovery.