A method of handling requests for access to a downstream network connected to a digital home communication terminal, DHCT,, the method comprising: receiving a request for access to a downstream network connected to the DHCT; determining if the request for access is user-initiated, and if the request for access is not user-initiated, setting a FastMode flag 320F to false, wherein the FastMode flag controls if a fast channel acquisition is used; determining a source of the request for access, wherein if the request for access is a DVR request, setting a Delay flag 320D to Random and an ErrorCorrection flag 320E to Robust, wherein the Delay Flag 320D controls the amount of delay between the request for access and an actual channel acquisition; and performing a channel acquisition using the flags, wherein, in response to the request for access being the DVR request, performing the channel acquisition further comprises: determining a first maximum resolution based on an available DVR storage space; determining a second maximum resolution based on an available bandwidth; determining a desired resolution to be the minimum of the first maximum resolution and the second maximum resolution; comparing a requested resolution to the desired resolution, the requested resolution comprising a resolution of a program carried by a requested channel identified in the request; and if the requested resolution is different than the desired resolution, attempting to find an analogous channel carrying the same program but having a resolution closer to the desired resolution. receiving a request for access to a downstream network connected to the DHCT; determining if the request for access is user-initiated, and if the request for access is not user-initiated, setting a FastMode flag 320F to false, wherein the FastMode flag controls if a fast channel acquisition is used; determining a source of the request for access, wherein if the request for access is a DVR request, setting a Delay flag 320D to Random and an ErrorCorrection flag 320E to Robust, wherein the Delay Flag 320D controls the amount of delay between the request for access and an actual channel acquisition; and performing a channel acquisition using the flags, wherein, in response to the request for access being the DVR request, performing the channel acquisition further comprises: determining a first maximum resolution based on an available DVR storage space; determining a second maximum resolution based on an available bandwidth; determining a desired resolution to be the minimum of the first maximum resolution and the second maximum resolution; comparing a requested resolution to the desired resolution, the requested resolution comprising a resolution of a program carried by a requested channel identified in the request; and if the requested resolution is different than the desired resolution, attempting to find an analogous channel carrying the same program but having a resolution closer to the desired resolution. determining a first maximum resolution based on an available DVR storage space; determining a second maximum resolution based on an available bandwidth; determining a desired resolution to be the minimum of the first maximum resolution and the second maximum resolution; comparing a requested resolution to the desired resolution, the requested resolution comprising a resolution of a program carried by a requested channel identified in the request; and if the requested resolution is different than the desired resolution, attempting to find an analogous channel carrying the same program but having a resolution closer to the desired resolution.