A method of channel estimation in a transmission diversity system includes observing phase differences between channel estimates in a diversity antenna, either determining whether a phase shift is a right half plane or a left half plane and calculating a left/right estimate, or determining whether a phase shift is in a lower half plane or an upper half plane and calculating an up/down estimate, and performing an estimate of the transmitted phase using the sum over at least two slots of one left/right estimate or one up/down estimate.