A joint rake and minimum bit-error rate (MBER) equalizer receiver for direct-sequence ultra-wideband (DS-UWB) communication systems is proposed, where the receiver combats against inter-symbol interference (ISI) by utilizing the rake and equalization techniques. Theoretical analysis and simulation results of the proposed receiver performance are given. Monte Carlo simulations show that the performance of this receiver outperforms rake-MMSE-equalizer receiver and it will degrade with the increase of data speed and the decrease of rake fingers.