A method for generating a transmit sequence in a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) transmitter is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a first time domain sequence, transforming the first time domain sequence to a first frequency domain sequence according to a first transform, distributing the first frequency domain sequence among a subset of subcarriers among a plurality of subcarriers in a second frequency domain sequence, transforming the second frequency domain sequence to a second time domain sequence, and adding a cyclic prefix to the second time domain sequence to form a transmit sequence. In one exemplary embodiment, the first time domain sequence is a plurality of pilot symbols that have known properties e.g., a constant amplitude, and zero autocorrelation (CAZAC).