A receiving apparatus includes a variable gain unit to change between a first gain and a smaller second gain, and to amplify a received signal to obtain an amplified signal; a comparator to compare a power of the amplified signal with a reference value; and a controller to set a gain to the first gain while in a standby state, to reset a gain to a third gain between the first and second gains if in a standby state the power of the received signal is larger than the reference value, and then to set a gain to the first gain and return to the standby state if the power is equal to or lower than the reference value, or if not, to a fourth gain between the first and third gains.