The teachings of the present disclosure relate to a method for receiving “N” data streams (wherein “N” is a number greater than one) from “N” endpoints. Each of the data streams are received from a different respective endpoint. The method also includes decoding the “N” data streams by generating a decoding signal input comprising the “N” data streams and then iteratively repeating the following steps “N”−1 times: determine a most reliable stream; decode the most reliable stream using linear multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) decoding; output the decoded most reliable stream; estimate a signal estimate based on the most reliable stream and modulation information associated with the most reliable stream; and generate a residual signal that comprises the remaining data streams less the signal estimate. Upon the residual signal comprising two data streams, the method includes updating the decoding signal input to be the residual signal. Upon the residual signal comprising a single received stream, the method includes decoding the residual signal using a maximum likelihood decoder.