A method for transmitting a signal uses a channel impulse response to determine a sub-carrier frequency function for at least two different basis functions. For each of the at least two sub-carrier frequency functions, a performance measure is predicted using the associated frequency function. These predicted performance measures are then stored and compared. One of the at least two basis functions are selected based on the comparing. A signal to be transmitted is converted from the frequency to the time domain using the selected basis function, and then transmitted over multiple sub-carriers via a time radio-frequency channel. Adaptive modulation, coding, bit and/or power loading may also be used in conjunction with the adaptive basis functions. A transmitter, modulator, and computer program are also described.