Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a node device includes an interface configured to receive first signals. A plurality of coupling devices are configured to launch the first signals on a transmission medium as a plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves at corresponding plurality of non-optical carrier frequencies, wherein the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves are bound to a physical structure of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A transmission method for transmitting a packet from a first node device to a second node device of an electrical supply network, the transmission method includes the following steps performed by the first node device: transmitting the IP packet by radio frequency in the case where a level of use by the first node device of the transmission by radio frequency calculated on a sliding time window with respect to a maximum use time is below a first threshold, the first threshold being below a second threshold beyond which any transmission by radio frequency is interrupted; transmitting the IP packet by powerline otherwise, and, in the case where the powerline transmission fails, transmitting the IP packet by radio frequency in the case where the level of use is below the second threshold.

A transmission method for transmitting a fragment of an IP packet from a first node device to a third node device through a second node device. The first and second node devices are configured for communicating by powerline and by radio frequency. The second and third node devices can communicate only using a single communication medium from powerline and radio frequency. A first fragment sent by said first node device either by powerline or by radio frequency is received. An acknowledgement message is sent by to said first node device using a second communication medium selected from powerline and radio frequency so that it is different from said single medium. Then said first fragment is transmitted to said third node device using said single communication medium.

An embodiment is a method including receiving, by a first device via a mesh communication network, a first broadcast message over a first communication channel, the first broadcast message having a first hop count, receiving, by the first device via the mesh communication network, a second broadcast message over the first communication channel, and determining, by the first device, whether the second broadcast message is a consistent broadcast message as the first broadcast message, the determining including determining, by the first device, whether the first broadcast message has a same originator address as the second broadcast message, and determining, by the first device, whether the second hop count is larger than the first hop count.

A method for delivering a communication signal is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at an optical transceiver, an optical communication and constructing, at a baseband integrated circuit in communication with the optical transceiver, a radio frequency communication (e.g., the intermediate frequency data and control signals) based on the optical communication. The method also includes transmitting the radio frequency communication from a Sommerfeld-Goubau launcher in communication with the baseband integrated circuit as a surface wave along a power line to a strand mount device disposed on the power line. The strand mount device is configured to receive the radio frequency communication and wirelessly transmit the radio frequency communication (e.g., via a wireless link) to a user device.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves that propagates along a surface of a first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves conveys a plurality of communication signals, detecting an attenuation in the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves that affects a propagation of the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves along the first surface of the first transmission medium, and responsive to the detecting, redirecting at least a portion of the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves to an interface of a second transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A system for communicating BPL signals is provided, including a BPL modem having a first internal modem and a second internal modem, the first internal modem and the second internal modem each in communication with a RF combiner; the RF combiner in communication with a medium voltage power line; and wherein the RF combiner combines signals from the first internal modem and the second internal modem into a single signal, and communicates the single signal to the medium voltage power line.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a surveying system operable to receive a plurality of electromagnetic waves via a guided wave transceiver that include environmental data collected via a plurality of sensors at a plurality of remote sites. Weather pattern data is generated based on the environmental data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, different groups of network devices mounted on utility poles. The different groups of network devices can be arranged along different paths. A communication path for transmitting wireless signals can alternate between the different groups of network devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Selecting a communication route between a first and a second node device of a mesh electrical supply network using powerline and/or radio-frequency communications is described. A route cost is obtained for each possible communication route. A communication route of the lowest route cost is selected. For a given route, the route cost is the sum of the link costs between successive node devices on the route, the link cost between two successive node devices is a weighted sum between a maximum value from a link cost in a forward direction and a link cost in a backward direction and a ratio between a number of active routes and a maximum number of active routes. A link cost in a given direction depends on the cost of the link, in the given direction, calculated for each frequency band of frequency bands used by the two successive node devices for communicating.