[MatrixDweller]

They usually have two different settings. One for volume control which with be either fixed or variable. That will make it so the either the volume on the TV/AV Receiver controls the volume or the cable/sat receiver controls the volume. The other will be for the dynamic range. Wide, Narrow or Normal are typically the options. In most caes you want it on Wide if you have a AV Receiver hooked up to it. Normal is OK but Narrow limits things a bit too much, sort of like night mode or Dolby Digital Compression on many receivers. Those two setting aren't a solution to the volume fluctuation problem. Narrow might reduce the effect, but will result in lack luster sound over all unless you're just using small built-in TV speakers.

The fact still stands that the cable/sat companies should not be using so much compression and should also equialize volume levels either at transmission or in the cable/sat receiver (which they currently do not).