1. A method for estimating a received signal quality for a communication channel comprising the steps of: convolutionally encoding a data frame; transmitting the encoded data frame over the communication channel from a control node to the receiver; receiving the transmitted data frame at the receiver; decoding the received data frame to provide an estimate of the transmitted data frame and an associated final decision metric of at least a portion of a decoder bit path selected for the data frame; mapping the final decision metric at the receiver to provide the received signal quality estimate; providing the received signal quality estimate to the control node; and determining at the control node whether a corrective action should be taken prior to transmission of a subsequently transmitted data frame from the control node to the receiver based on the received signal quality estimate.