Abstract: A wireless modem includes an RF module adapted to be connected to an antenna, comprising an intermediate frequency input and an intermediate frequency output, a PHY module receiving the intermediate frequency output and generating the intermediate frequency input, and a low level media access control (LL-MAC) module connected to the PHY and using a direct memory access (DMA) connection for data exchange with a high level media access control module (HL-MAC). A direct memory access (DMA) to computer bus interface module is adapted to be connected to the DMA connection of the LL-MAC and to a computer bus. The DMA interface module responds to the LL-MAC as memory and is adapted to cooperate with the HL-MAC connected to the computer bus. The architecture allows for a modem to be placed on a mini-PCI module with the HL-MAC residing in software on a host computer.