Equalizer and method of setting initial value for same

An equalizer is provided which is capable of making a filter factor to be set in the equalizer having an equalizing filter converge rapidly and a method is provided for setting an initial value for the rapid convergence of the filter factor. In the equalizer having a filter factor computing device to compute a filter factor for an equalizing filter, and a differential detecting circuit to generate a differential signal between a signal output from the equalizing filter and a common pilot diffusing code, an initial value for the filter factor computing device is generated and set by a multipath timing detecting circuit, a reverse diffusing section, and a channel estimating device being operated based on a received signal.