The method and device performs spread spectrum based communication and/or navigation. Device embodiments may include a receiver having a plurality of programmable tracking units and a processor in communication with the receiver to control the device, such as reconfiguration of the device from one mode to another mode. The tracking units are programmable in a navigation mode to receive and process the satellite navigation signals or in a communication mode to receive and process the spread spectrum based communication signals. When the receiver is configured to track navigation signals, operation may include acquiring the tracked navigation signals, synchronizing the tracking units, obtaining correlation data from a set of correlators, determining pseudo-ranges based on the correlation data, and determining a position fix based on the pseudo-ranges. The communication mode may include implementing multi-code transmission via a plurality of spreaders, where each spreader produces a multi-code signal, and demodulating the multi-code signal via multiple slaved tracking units.