A method for receiving at a receiver having a variable filter a transmitted signal that includes a periodic training signal. The method includes (a) receiving and sampling the transmitted signal at the receiver to produce a digital complex baseband signal; (b) filtering the digital complex baseband signal with the variable filter; (c) detecting the periodic training signal in the filtered digital complex baseband signal; (d) determining a desired channel impulse response based on the detected periodic training signal; (e) calculating filter coefficients required by the variable filter to achieve the desired channel impulse response; and (f) adjusting the variable filter according to the calculated filter coefficients. A receiver for implementing the method is also provided.