Methods and apparatus for multiple channel modem and preamble detection. In an example arrangement, a system includes a plurality of communication nodes coupled to one another via an over the air interface, at least one of the communication nodes including an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals on the over the air interface; a radio transceiver coupled to the antenna for receiving signals and having an output for transmitting signal samples; and a dual core processor coupled to the radio transceiver, the dual core processor comprising a first CPU and a second CPU, the first CPU configured to process signals for a first channel within the signal samples received from the radio transceiver, and the second CPU configured to process signals for a second channel within the signal samples received from the radio transceiver. Methods and additional apparatus are also disclosed.