I'm running manual also, and have 1A at 5*2, 1B at 8*2 and 2A at 8*2
I'm far from any sort of expert on gain settings. I know it is a delicate dance to hear some signals and get your dot to turn purple (or pink?) and some participation lines to show up at this time of the year, but is it nice to know you are working, so I think we'll all twiddle a bit, especially when things are so new for you.
I remember right after I got the RED unit that there were so few stations in Region 3 that we all were using the old mentality of cranking the gain and letting the servers sort the chaff out of the wheat, but with so many more stations (except out in the midwest especially towards Wyoming, western Nebrask, Oklahoma and that area, which seems strange with so much electrical weather out there during the summer).
But I think watching the noise signals on the digital display and the number of signals sent vs. how much activity there is would be a good idea. Change something then watch it for a few days (unless of course you cranked gain up and you immediately see all sorts of crap, then back down right away) but it wasn't like chasing a single sideband HF signal by constantly tuning for shifts in ham radio. Change, watch, think, change if necessary.
I am not trying to insult anyone by omission, but Mike, Greg and a host of others here are old hats at this, and can probably be heard mumbling gain settings and noise suggestions in their deep sleep, so after you run a bit, and have a chance to perhaps be around to catch the few storms that might be active this winter, give them a request. Do it here publically so others can see the answers and discussion and learn from that, too. Private is OK but the group looses the information communicated if it is public.
By the way, just for info, how long did you say it was from request for hardware until you got notification of available kit for you? I know many folks are waiting, with a huge explosion in interest and some hiccoughs in the supply chain, with the developers working a real job, having family, and having the usual things that pop up, and while most folks are understanding this is a passion and hobby for them, they are very professional in the delivery of solid hardware and design that works. I don't think I've touched my BLUE or RED (other than firmware) for a year or so. And the control panel interface to the boards and the reporting pages and software still is amazing to me.
Anyway I had a friend nearly ready to take on my RED board for install out in Wyoming when I had a 'flood' that zapped my H field preamp, so my RED is an E Field only. If the developers get caught up on kits, I'm hoping to get a BLUE station assembled and have him set it up out there near Jackson Hole, but since I have a solid station (perhaps not as tuned as some of the old timers here would have it tweaked) I would feel more than a wee bit guilty getting in line for another station while many still wait for their chance. But if it is taking a year or more I'd better be getting my name on the list.
Keep tweaking, keep watching. Before long spring willl be here and static will start jumping again.
Oh, by the way, I assume you also are looking at the LightningMaps.org page for volumes of info?
Dale