Drive level is regulated by ALC. You can use your radio’s ALC meter to pull back the levels to where ALC is about to kick in. Here’s relevant info from the transceiver’s manual in context of the voice transmission. I don’t own this radio, but I’d expect similar behavior for data.
Thanks for reply on the IC7100 ALC is always activated with FM-D and Mic Gain at various settings from 10 to 50 ALC stays within its range.
For Data do not believe this has an effect but am now getting Digipeats on one satellite so still adjusting ACC Mod Level and Data Mod Level to find cut off point and work from there.