1. A wireless access point comprising: a set of (N) antenna elements, wherein each element is adapted to receive a version of a radio frequency transmission composed of a data baring signals including one or more transmitted spatial streams; a multi-stream wireless modem circuit including a set of K received signal input nodes and adapted to demodulate a received transmission including one or more spatial streams; and a received signal translation block adapted to translate data baring signals derived from radio frequency signals received at said set of N antenna elements into corresponding signal inputs to said K received signal input nodes by applying a translation matrix which is at least partially generated based on received signal characterization information.