A method of combining multiple frames of data into a single access to a shared communications medium improves network efficiency transmitting in a fashion compatible with legacy network equipment. An increase in the efficiency of use of a shared communications medium is realized by amortizing the overhead of fixed elements of a communication protocol over multiple frames. The sharing of preamble signaling, elimination of multiple inter-frame gaps or spaces, and the use of a legacy signal field permits a representative embodiment of the present invention to more effectively use a shared communication medium, while in addition providing backward compatible support for legacy network stations.