An audio/video (AV) processor is coupled to a media access controller (MAC) to generate a composite packet having an optimized format for carrying audio, video, and data traffic with fields in a header of the composite packet specifying video-specific information. A physical device interface (PHY) is coupled to the MAC. The PHY encodes and decodes between a digital signal and a modulated analog signal. The PHY comprises a high rate physical layer circuit (HRP) and a low rate physical layer circuit (LRP). A radio frequency (RF) transmitter is coupled to the PHY to transmit data.