The power control apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a local oscillator signal path coupled to a mixer (106) through a variable attenuator (107) and an IF signal path coupled to the mixer (106) through two variable attenuators (108 and 109) coupled in series. The IF signal path attenuators (108 and 109) are controlled by digital control circuitry (111) while the local oscillator path attenuator (107) is controlled by the control circuitry through a level shifter (110). The power level of the signal generated by the mixing of these two signals is less than the conducted output of the radiotelephone's power amplifier.