The dielectric constants, electrical conductivity, specific heat, and pyroelectric coefficients of ferro‐electric Sr1−xBaxNb2O6(SBN) are investigated as a function of temperature in the range 10°–500°K, and as a function of the Sr/Ba composition of the material. A simple technique for measuring absolute pyroelectric coefficients and spontaneous polarizations of ferroelectrics is described. The electric field and frequency dependence of the dielectric properties are also investigated. The theory of pyroelectric detection is discussed from a materials point of view, and the experimental data are considered in terms of the usefulness of SBN as a pyroelectric detector of electromagnetic radiation.