An apparatus, a method and a machine-readable storage medium to accommodate both high function and low cost wireless devices in a wireless network. An exemplary apparatus includes a receiver to wirelessly receive a first packet comprising first and second shifting pilot signals amidst first data symbols transmitted via multiple subcarriers in symbol sets; a transmitter to wireless transmit a second packet; and logic to track a phase shift using the first and second shifting pilot signals, to configure the receiver to compensate for the shift in phase, to refrain from using reception of the first and second shifting pilot signals to update an initial channel estimate derived from a preamble of the first packet, and to transmit third and fourth shifting pilot signals amidst second data symbols of the second packet.