Abstract: There is disclosed a wireless communication device capable of receiving an incoming RF data signal and generating therefrom a base layer data stream and at least one enhancement layer data stream. The wireless communication device comprises: 1) a base layer decoder, 2) at least one enhancement layer decoder, 3) a variable mode receiver for demodulating the RF incoming RF data signals in a plurality of physical modes, such as BPSK, QPSK, QAM, and the like, and at a plurality of code rates and 4) a receiver mode controller for controlling the physical modes of the variable mode receiver. The receiver mode controller causes a first demodulated output signal of the variable mode receiver to be transferred to the base layer decoder when the variable mode receiver is operating in a first physical mode and causes a second demodulated output signal of the variable mode receiver to be transferred to the at least one enhancement layer decoder when the variable mode receiver is operating in a second physical mode.