Techniques are disclosed to detect deep fading caused by magnitude drop and rapid phase change on channels within a frequency band of a narrowband wireless radio operating in a BMS-like environment with strong multipath. The techniques may identify an interference channel, a deep fading channel, or a weak signal channel. A channel assessment algorithm may receive packets on one of multiple channels to determine a received signal strength for each packet associated with the channel. The algorithm may determine a PER associated with the channel based on a number of packets received in error and a difference between the received signal strength of each packet and a reference signal strength associated with other channels of the frequency band. The PER may be compared with a PER threshold. The channel may be excluded from use by the wireless radio if the PER for the channel is greater than the PER threshold.

A frequency hopping communication method for short-distance wireless communication between a primary device and a secondary device comprises switching by the primary device from the second frequency hopping sequence to the first frequency hopping sequence at a time point of frequency hopping switching, wherein M reserved channels are between a first frequency hopping sequence and a second frequency hopping sequence; and performing frequency hopping communication with the secondary device based on the first frequency hopping sequence.