Abstract: In a convolutional coding and Viterbi decoding system transparent to phase skips of .pi. and .pi./2 with applications in TDMA transmission, the transmitter 3 includes a demultiplexer receiving a digital bit stream and operating at the bit timing rate, a QPSK differential coder receiving the demultiplexed bit streams and supplying two coded bit streams, two convolutional coders each supplying one code word, and two multiplexers each receiving one code word from a respective convolutional coder and supplying one component of a symbol to be transmitted. The receiver generates two received symbol components which are applied to two demultiplexers each supplying one code word. Each bit of a code word is applied to a single Viterbi decoder. A QPSK type differential decoder supplies two decoded bit streams which are then multiplexed.