Invention Patent: A SUBSCRIBER UNIT AND A METHOD FOR USE IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. A set of subscriber channels (A, B, C, Pilot) individually adjusted in gain is formed through the use of a set of orthogonal subchannel codes (Walsh + -, Walsh ++ -) having a small number of chips PN spreading by orthogonal waveform period. The data to be transmitted through one of the transmission channels is coded with low code rate error correction and repeated in sequence before being modulated with one of the subchannel codes, adjusted in gain and added with modulated data using the other subchannel codes. The resulting summed data (316) is modulated using a long user code and a pseudo random scattering code (PN code) and converted for transmission. The use of short orthogonal codes provides suppression of interference, allowing concomitantly extensive coding with error correction and repetition for temporal diversity to overcome the Raleigh attenuation or fading commonly suffered by terrestrial wireless systems. The subchannel code set can include four Walsh codes, each orthogonal to the remaining codes in the set. The use of the four subchannels is preferred as it allows shorter orthogonal codes to be used, however the use of a greater number of channels, and therefore of longer codes, is acceptable. Preferably, pilot data and control data are combined into one channel. The remaining two transmission channels are used for the transmission of unspecified digital data, including user data or signaling data, or both.