This paper proposes a new coherent CDMA channel structure for the uplink with staggered burst pilot and its detection algorithm. In the uplink, mobiles in a cell share a pilot channel by transmitting periodic bursts in nonoverlapping time slots, which enables coherent detection. We analyze the uplink capacity and derive the capacity formula. The dual mode channel estimator (DMCE) consists of pilot-based channel estimation (PBCE) and data-based channel estimation (DBCE). The proposed DMCE algorithm is very stable in the presence of Gaussian noise and Doppler shift because the pilot burst initiates the DMCE operation periodically. A negligible loss (0.068 dB) in Eb/N0 results from the introduction of the burst pilot. When compared with ideal (0 km/h) coherent detection, the required Eb/N0 in Doppler shift, corresponding to the speed of 160 km/h, is degraded less than 2.0 dB. The simulation result also shows increased channel capacity. The burst pilot can be implemented without added complexity even though some extra correlators are needed for the DMCE. This improvement is significant compared to previously published studies of coherent CDMA detectors with non-shared pilots.