In high data rate communication applications where digital data information is error-corrected coded and interleaved and transmitted with spectral limitations over fading dispersive channels, a method and receiver is described that incorporates channel estimation and decision-feedback equalization. Channel estimation is accomplished within a receiver time block with locally generated reference symbol sequences. The parameters of the decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) are computed directly from the channel estimates. The DFE is an optimum finite length realization that includes effects from spectrum control filtering, a space-time block coder (STBC) on multiple transmit antennas, multiple receiver diversity signals, and the fading dispersive channel. The DFE includes a matched filter, forward filter, backward filter, and detector. A symbol combiner within the matched filter produces a P+1 dimensional signal that provides ideal cancellation of P intersymbol interferers in the forward filter. When P is selected to meet an intersymbol interference (ISI) criterion, all desired signal energy is collected and all ISI can be ideally cancelled. The DFE processes received signals within the receiver time block to produce information symbol estimates that are subsequently deinterleaved and error-correction decoded to recover the transmitted digital data information. Deinterleaving over multiple receiver time blocks further compensates for channel estimation variations from block to block. Additionally the STBC and DFE are used in a quadruple angle diversity technique requiring only a single antenna at each terminal of a troposcatter link to provide performance approaching that of a nonfading satellite link.