A correlator despreads a P/N long code constructed from two or more constituent codes A, B, C having N, M and L elements respectively. In a third stage, L filter taps decorrelate elements of the third constituent code from the input received signal, leaving elements of code AB. The outputs of the third stage delay line are summed and input into a second stage delay line having M filter taps to decorrelate the elements of the second constituent code from the input to the second stage, leaving elements of code A. The outputs of the second stage delay line are summed and input to a first stage delay line having N filter taps. The output of the first stage delay line is summed and input into a shift register. An energy peak in the shift register indicates the phase of the P/N elements in the register is proper.