A method and apparatus provide for setting processing delay assignments in a CDMA receiver using a flat-channel placement or using a dispersive channel placement, in dependence on characterizing the channel as flat or dispersive. For example, a receiver maintains a logical flag reliably indicating the current channel state as flat or dispersive, and assigns or otherwise sets processing delays—e.g., for received signal demodulation—using a flat-channel placement algorithm or a dispersive-channel placement algorithm. The “flat-channel” placement algorithm generally provides better performance in flat-channel environments, and the “dispersive-channel” placement algorithm generally provides better performance in dispersive channel environments. Such processing may be regarded as “activating” a simplified processing delay placement grid that offers better performance if the channel truly is flat, with the underlying advantage of providing a reliable mechanism for detecting flat channel conditions.