A symbol synchronizer (10) for use in a communication device. The symbol synchronizer (10) comprises a sampling circuit (100) which samples the demodulated signal at a plurality of sampling events for each symbol period to generate three sample values at each sampling event. An eye pattern detector circuit (200) generates eye pattern characteristic information based on the three sample values, and outputs a symbol pulse in response to detecting eye pattern characteristic information consistent with a symbol center. A synchronization noise mask circuit (400) filters symbol pulses that occur during a predetermined period of time after a first symbol pulse is detected for each symbol period. A synchronization adjust circuit (500) generates a synchronization pulse during each symbol period at a particular instant of time during the symbol period based on a history of the occurrences of symbol pulses for a current symbol period and for prior symbol periods.