A method for direct tuning of a radio receiver begins by providing a plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals to an input of the radio receiver. The method continues by, for each of a plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals, determining received signal strength of a current one of the plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals to produce a measured received signal strength, determining whether the measured received signal strength is within a threshold of a known signal strength of the current one of the plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals, when the measured received signal strength is not within the threshold of the known signal strength of the current one of the plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals, incrementally adjusting gain of the radio receiver by a predetermined adjustment value until the measured received signal strength is within the threshold of the known signal strength of the current one of the plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals. The method continues by determining response of the radio receiver based on the incrementally adjusting the gain of the radio when the measured received signal strength is not within the threshold of the known signal strength of the current one of the plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals to produce a determined response. The method continues by comparing the determined response with a desired response of the radio receiver. The method continues by, when the determined response compares unfavorably with the desired response, determining a response offset based on a difference between the determined response and the desired response. The method continues by adjusting response of the radio receiver based on the response offset.