Abstract: A receiver in a digital cellular communication system includes a system for receiving a signal transmitted in the cellular system and representing a code word encoded in a binary linear block code and a first digital signal processor for demodulating the signal and a second digital signal processor for decoding the binary linear block code in the demodulated signal. A system operates the digital signal processors to demodulate the code word partially and produce a demodulated portion of the code word, to provide a partial syndrome calculation to the demodulated portion of the code word as at least one additional portion of the code word is demodulated, and to apply an additional syndrome calculation to the at least one additional demodulated portion of the code word, and to combine the partial and additional syndrome calculations to provide a complete syndrome calculation. An output system then outputs decoded signals.