A flexible automatic broiler and method of use for variable batch cooking for particular use in quick serve and fast food service restaurants. A receiver accepts a plurality of multicarrier signals, transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of transmitters, with overlapping carrier frequencies and nominally orthogonal reference signals. The second prediction modes of one or more second intra-blocks are determined with the aid of the first prediction modes for one or more first intra-blocks and the second intra-blocks are coded using the second prediction modes that are thus determined. The mean frequency and its distribution is measured and recorded in an output circuit. The circumferential plane and the receiving plane are seamed together to form the second seam line.