System and method for transmitting a multiple format wireless signal

A multi-mode transmitter is adapted to modulate a data packet communicated by a wireless communications signal. The data packet includes a packet header comprising a preamble and a start of frame delimiter, and a data payload comprising a payload data length portion and a payload portion. The packet header is modulated with a spread spectrum technique. When transmitting a data payload in one mode, the data payload is also modulated with the spread spectrum technique. When transmitting a data payload in another mode, the data payload is modulated with a non-spread spectrum technique.