Abstract: In a demodulator circuit for receiving a direct sequence spread spectrum signal having composite PN codes, there is provided a novel detecting and tracking circuit for faster acquisition of the component PN codes. The first component code of the received composite direct sequence spread spectrum code is noncoherently detected in a noncoherent detection branch and the subsequent component codes of the composite code are automatically detected in a coherent lock detection branch to provide faster acquisition than was heretofore possible. Further, while the noncoherent detection branch is acquiring the first component PN code, a novel coherent carrier tracking loop is acquiring and locking onto the direct sequence spread spectrum signal carrier.