A system and method provides extended convolutional coding for packets/frames or superframes used in wireless transmission. A wireless system has an extended convolutional encoder/decoder, a wireless network, a server having an extended convolutional encoding/decoding module, one or more clients, at least one of which performs extended convolutional encoding/decoding; and a wireless transmission unit for the server and one or more clients to communicate via the wireless network. A method for providing the extended convolutional encoding includes the steps of retrieving a set of codes from a database that has a maximal-minimal free distance within a certain range; selecting a subset of the retrieved codes that have the smallest number of paths at the maximal-minimal free distance; and finding extended convolutional codes by selecting a code having a certain rate from the subset of codes that have the smallest number of paths at increased free distances to provide the best candidates. The performance of the extended code can be verified prior to encoding.