In this paper, the analog code modulation characteristics of distributed-based transversal filters (DTFs) suitable for use in spectrally encoded CDMA systems are presented. The DTF is verified as an appropriate method to use in high-speed CDMA systems as opposed to previously proposed methods, which are intended for Direct Sequence (DS) CDMA systems. The large degree of freedom of DTF design permits controlling the filter pulse response to generate well specified temporal phase-coded signals. A decoder structure that performs bipolar detection of user subbands giving rise to a Spectral-Amplitude Encoded CDMA system is considered. Practical implementations require truncating the spreading signals by a time window of duration equal to the span time of the tapped delay line. Filter functions are chosen to demodulate the matched channel and achieve improved user interference rejection avoiding the need for transversal filters featuring a large number of taps. As a proof-of-concept of the electronic SAE scheme, practical circuit designs are developed at low speeds (3-dB point at 1 GHz) demonstrating the viability of the proposal.