A synchronization pulse detector includes an absolute value independent shape detector for processing samples of an input signal having a synchronization pulse and a plurality of non-synchronization pulses to determine whether such samples have a predetermined sequence. The predetermined sequence includes a first and second absolute value independent time-varying portions and a first and second absolute value independent non-time varying portions. One of the first and second absolute value independent time-varying portions having a positive slope and the other one of the first and second absolute value independent time-varying portions having a negative slope.