A link optimizer for optimizing a link on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The link optimizer includes: a sounding distender, a beamform matrix derivation module, and a link dimension attenuator. The sounding distender send a sounding packet exclusively at a maximum number of streams and at a maximum bandwidth supported by the link and receives a MIMO feedback beamforming matrix in response. The beamform matrix derivation module derives from the received MIMO feedback beamforming matrix a set of derived MIMO beamforming matrices having at least a column dimension less than a column dimension in the feedback beamforming matrix. The link dimension attenuator selects at least one of the derived beamforming matrices for transmission of subsequent communication packets, thereby avoiding a requirement for additional channel sounding.