1. A method of conditioning signal values being conveyed to a decoder in a wireless-communications network receiver, the method comprising steps of: (a) scaling the signal values, outputted by a rake receiver, by a scaling factor; (b) monitoring the probability distribution of the amplitudes of the scaled signal values including generating a parameter based on the probability distribution that is not grossly effected by amplitude saturation of the signal values; and (c) adjusting the scaling factor according to the parameter obtained in step (b).