A system and method for generating weight values based on maximum data rate for weighting elements included within signal weighting and combining arrangements used in various multi-antenna transmitter and receiver structures is disclosed herein. Weighting values for a given signal combining arrangement are set so as to maximize an output data rate of the applicable multi-antenna system in the presence of adaptive bit loading of the subcarriers of a transmitted signal. The disclosed techniques may be employed to maximize a data rate of a multi-antenna communication system by using adaptive bit loading and RF and baseband weighting schemes. In this case a search is conducted over various combinations of RF and baseband weights in order to find the weight combination which, when adaptive bit loading is also employed, maximizes the data rate.