A method of antenna selection, in a MIMO system in which a transmitter having a first plurality of RF chains communicates with a receiver having a second plurality of RF chains, includes transmitting consecutive sounding packets produced by the first plurality of RF chains. The consecutive sounding packets each include a training symbol, and collectively sound a full-size channel for the MIMO system. The method also includes receiving channel state information for each of a plurality of scaled sub-channel estimates determined at the receiver. The channel state information includes at least one of respective gain factors that were applied to the consecutive sounding packets received at the receiver and respective scaling factors that were applied to sub-channel estimates determined at the receiver. The method also includes adjusting power levels applied to the first plurality of RF chains in response to receiving the channel state information.