A method for QR-maximum likelihood detection (QR-MLD) demodulation is provided. The method includes determining a transmission reception mode, receiving symbols represented by a received symbol vector, generating a channel matrix, and performing QR decomposition on the channel matrix to compute a unitary matrix and an upper triangular matrix. The method further includes the steps of processing the received symbol vector by multiplying the received symbol vector by the Hermitian of the unitary matrix, determining whether a conjugate calculation will be required to set a conjugate flag, computing a first distance metric by performing a conjugate or non-conjugate first distance metric calculation depending on the conjugate flag, and computing an estimated symbol by performing a conjugate or non-conjugate estimated symbol calculation depending on the conjugate flag. The method provided is less complex than existing demodulation methods, and it may be used to at least demodulate data transmitted via different modes.