Abstract: A rapid acquisition gain control system for use in a wireless communication device having an RF input and a receive signal path including RF and baseband portions. The system includes two or more dual-state gain elements, two or more power detectors and control logic. The gain elements are sequentially coupled in the receive signal path of the wireless device and collectively have multiple combined gain states. Each combined gain state corresponds to one of several gain range segments of a predetermined dynamic range. Each power detector is coupled to detect an output power level associated with one of the gain elements. The control logic changes the combined gain state of the gain elements if a change of power level of energy processed in the receive signal path exceeds a predetermined threshold and a different combined gain state is indicated by the power detectors.