A communication system for transmitting encoded signals over a communication channel is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter, which has a source that is configured to output a plurality of input signals. The transmitter also includes an encoder that is configured to generate a plurality of output signals in response to the plurality of the input signals to output a code word according to the plurality of output signals, wherein the code word has a predetermined algebraic construction for space-frequency coding based upon the communication channel being characterized as a frequency selective block fading channel. Further, the transmitter includes a modulator that is configured to modulate the code word for transmission over the communication channel, and a plurality of transmit antennas that configured to transmit the modulated code word over the communication channel. The system encompasses a receiver that includes a plurality of receive antennas, in which the receiver is configured to receive the transmitted code word via the plurality of receive antennas. The receiver employs an OFDM-front end to transform the Intersymbol Interference (ISI) channel characteristics of the communication channel to selective block fading characteristics.