A system includes an analog front end (AFE) unit to be coupled to a power line network, and a controller coupled to the AFE unit. More specifically, the AFE unit is to receive a packet signal from the power line network wherein, based on a first gain parameter, the AFE unit is to amplify the received packet signal. The controller is configured to calculate a root-mean-square (RMS) power of the amplified packet signal. Further, the AFE unit is to calculate a second gain parameter based on the calculated RMS power of the amplified packet signal and the first gain parameter, wherein the second gain parameter is to be used to amplify the received packet signal instead of the first gain parameter.