One embodiment is directed to controlling a gain for a receive signal path for receiving wireless signals. The following are repeatedly performed: determining an estimate of the total noise and interference in a received signal and determining a gain value for the receive signal path based on the estimate of the total noise and interference in order to maintain the digital data at a digital set point for a signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) decoded with a highest modulation and coding scheme specified for the wireless channel. Another embodiment is directed to determining a received signal strength of the signals received at the receive signal path and determining a gain value for the receive signal path based on the received signal strength that maintains the digital data at a digital set point for a SINR sufficient to decode the MCS specified for the wireless channel.