I found this on an eHam review;
One easy reversible mod to aid in CW/SSB reception is to add an external 5K pot to the (-) side of the S-meter and ground, to give a true I/F gain control. The radio's RF gain control is actually a front end attenuator and the RF and I/F circuits run full blast with only the AGC to adjust it.
Dominic Dambro