A method for processing a preamble of a data packet, received via a communication channel, using a pair of complementary sequences, wherein a sum of out-of-phase aperiodic autocorrelation coefficients of the pair of complementary sequences is zero, and wherein the preamble includes a first field that provides synchronization information and a second field that provides channel estimation information, includes at least one of (i) correlating a received signal corresponding to the preamble with at least one sequence of the pair of complementary sequences to generate a plurality of respective correlation signals, or (ii) autocorrelating the received signal to generate an autocorrelation signal. The method also includes determining a cover code in the preamble using at least one of (i) the plurality of respective correlation signals, or (ii) the autocorrelation signal. The method also includes using the cover code to decode the preamble.