Abstract: A reception method and receiver structure that are relatively simple, that have close to optimum performance, and that use high order modulation combined with a low spreading factor are disclosed. The method receives a signal transmittal in the form of sequences of coded binary symbols comprising both predefined pilot symbols and date symbols multiplied by a spreading sequence. The method also includes a step of determining a channel estimate using received predefined pilot symbols. A system for receiving a signal transmitted on a multipath transmission channel using a spread spectrum technique and low spreading factor is also disclosed.

Abstract: The method consists in estimating the transmission channel using received predefined pilot symbols, reconstituting the transmitted signal using the channel estimate on the basis of received signals that were transmitted via multiple paths of the transmission channel, determining from the channel estimate an equivalent model of the channel as seen from the reconstituted signal, reducing interference between symbols of the reconstituted transmitted signal resulting from a low spreading factor using the channel equivalent model and a DDFSE detector based on a trellis with a reduced number of states and delivering at its output estimated values of the received coded symbols, de-interleaving the coded symbols, and then decoding the estimated values of the de-interleaved coded symbols to reconstitute the transmitted data symbols.