A cardiac rhythm management device having operational circuitry for analyzing cardiac signals including a least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2) and first and second sensing channels, wherein the operational circuitry is configured to use the at least first and second sensing vectors, the operational circuitry comprising: a first means for comparing one or more sensing quality metrics of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2); selector means for selecting one of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2) as a preferred sensing configuration based on the comparison of the one or more sensing quality metrics; implementer means for implementing the preferred sensing configuration to analyze cardiac signals; a first identifier means for identifying low sensing signal quality for the preferred sensing configuration, and for triggering, in response to identifying low sensing signal quality, the following which also are included in the operational circuitry: analyzer means for re-analyzing sensing quality metrics of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2); a second identifier means for identifying a better sensing configuration than the preferred sensing configuration, at least as assessed at the time of the low sensing quality of the preferred sensing configuration; gating means configured, if one or more first preconditions are met, to cause the implementer means to implement the better sensing configuration to analyze cardiac signals; initializer means for initializing the better sensing configuration before the better sensing configuration is implemented; and monitor means for monitoring signal quality of the preferred sensing configuration until the low sensing quality for the preferred sensing configuration improves and one or more second preconditions are met, at which time the monitor means is configured to cause the implementer means to return to using the preferred sensing configuration. a first means for comparing one or more sensing quality metrics of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2); selector means for selecting one of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2) as a preferred sensing configuration based on the comparison of the one or more sensing quality metrics; implementer means for implementing the preferred sensing configuration to analyze cardiac signals; a first identifier means for identifying low sensing signal quality for the preferred sensing configuration, and for triggering, in response to identifying low sensing signal quality, the following which also are included in the operational circuitry: analyzer means for re-analyzing sensing quality metrics of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2); a second identifier means for identifying a better sensing configuration than the preferred sensing configuration, at least as assessed at the time of the low sensing quality of the preferred sensing configuration; gating means configured, if one or more first preconditions are met, to cause the implementer means to implement the better sensing configuration to analyze cardiac signals; initializer means for initializing the better sensing configuration before the better sensing configuration is implemented; and monitor means for monitoring signal quality of the preferred sensing configuration until the low sensing quality for the preferred sensing configuration improves and one or more second preconditions are met, at which time the monitor means is configured to cause the implementer means to return to using the preferred sensing configuration. analyzer means for re-analyzing sensing quality metrics of the at least first and second cardiac sensing vectors (V1, V2); a second identifier means for identifying a better sensing configuration than the preferred sensing configuration, at least as assessed at the time of the low sensing quality of the preferred sensing configuration; gating means configured, if one or more first preconditions are met, to cause the implementer means to implement the better sensing configuration to analyze cardiac signals; initializer means for initializing the better sensing configuration before the better sensing configuration is implemented; and monitor means for monitoring signal quality of the preferred sensing configuration until the low sensing quality for the preferred sensing configuration improves and one or more second preconditions are met, at which time the monitor means is configured to cause the implementer means to return to using the preferred sensing configuration.