A method of channel estimation for a signal having a first portion transmitted using a transmit delay diversity scheme and a second portion transmitted using another multi-antenna transmission scheme includes determining a composite channel estimate from the transmit delay diversity portion of the signal. The method continues with segregating the composite channel estimate into delay groups corresponding to time offsets of the transmit delay diversity scheme for determination of first channel estimates for each subset of transmit antennas. Second channel estimates are determined for each subset of transmit antennas as a function of pilot symbols received in the second portion of the signal and corresponding ones of the first channel estimates. Thus, the first channel estimates are used to improve estimation of the second channel estimates. The method and variations of it may be implemented by configuring one or more processing circuits within a receiver circuit.