Abstract: The device is for use in demultiplexing a MAC/PACKET incoming signal which comprises successive bursts of digital data distributed into packets, each packet consisting of useful data and a header having a channel number indicating one of a plurality of service components to which said packet is assigned, a continuity index IC and a header error protection code. The device has a circuit for generating all error-free configurations of a selected channel number and IC and corresponding to a respective service component; an encoder for encoding all error-free configurations into all possible theoretical header configurations having the error protection code; and a computer for computing the Hamming distances between each packet header in the incoming signal and all theoretical header configurations. Those packets for which the Hamming distance is not greater than a predetermined value are directed to an output interface.