Methods and apparatus for processing received signals in a multi-carrier system are disclosed. An exemplary method includes estimating one or more first propagation channel coefficients based on a training sequence in each of one or more first slots received over a first radio channel, equalizing signal samples from one or more second slots received over a second radio channel immediately frequency-adjacent to the first radio channel, using the first propagation channel coefficients, and demodulating user data bits from the equalized signal samples. In some embodiments, the training sequence is located at a fixed position in each of the one or more first slots and user data bits are demodulated from a directly corresponding position in each of the second slots. Improved data rates are thus achieved by constraining radio carriers in a multi-carrier system to frequency-adjacent channels and eliminating training symbols from one of the signals.