A method of operating a computing device for communication using a frequency-division multiplexing protocol, the method comprising: selecting a first plurality of selected sub-channels to carry a signal having a first bandwidth, the first plurality being selected from a second plurality of sub-channels, the second plurality collectively having a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth; and communicating the signal using the first plurality of selected sub-channels, wherein the act of selecting the first plurality of sub-channels comprises acts of: determining a number of sub-channels based on a desired data rate; examining a sub-channel of the second plurality of sub-channels to determine whether the sub-channel has conditions unsuitable to data transmission; identifying (410, 412) the sub-channel as suitable for communication or identifying the sub-channel as unsuitable for communication according to a determination of act, and selecting the sub-channel for communication if it has been identified as suitable; repeating acts and for different sub-channels of the second plurality of sub-channels until at least the number of sub-channels is selected, wherein the act further comprises storing (418; 510) an indication of the sub-channels selected; and the act further comprises examining a previously-selected sub-channel before a previously-unselected sub-channel if the computing device attempts to create a new signal within a predetermined period of time, and/or wherein the act further comprises storing sub-channels identified as unsuitable for communication; and the act further comprises examining a sub-channel previously identified as unsuitable after other sub-channels not previously identified as unsuitable if the computing device attempts to create a new signal within a predetermined period of time. selecting a first plurality of selected sub-channels to carry a signal having a first bandwidth, the first plurality being selected from a second plurality of sub-channels, the second plurality collectively having a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth; and communicating the signal using the first plurality of selected sub-channels, wherein the act of selecting the first plurality of sub-channels comprises acts of: determining a number of sub-channels based on a desired data rate; examining a sub-channel of the second plurality of sub-channels to determine whether the sub-channel has conditions unsuitable to data transmission; identifying (410, 412) the sub-channel as suitable for communication or identifying the sub-channel as unsuitable for communication according to a determination of act, and selecting the sub-channel for communication if it has been identified as suitable; repeating acts and for different sub-channels of the second plurality of sub-channels until at least the number of sub-channels is selected, determining a number of sub-channels based on a desired data rate; examining a sub-channel of the second plurality of sub-channels to determine whether the sub-channel has conditions unsuitable to data transmission; identifying (410, 412) the sub-channel as suitable for communication or identifying the sub-channel as unsuitable for communication according to a determination of act, and selecting the sub-channel for communication if it has been identified as suitable; repeating acts and for different sub-channels of the second plurality of sub-channels until at least the number of sub-channels is selected, wherein the act further comprises storing (418; 510) an indication of the sub-channels selected; and the act further comprises examining a previously-selected sub-channel before a previously-unselected sub-channel if the computing device attempts to create a new signal within a predetermined period of time, the act further comprises storing (418; 510) an indication of the sub-channels selected; and the act further comprises examining a previously-selected sub-channel before a previously-unselected sub-channel if the computing device attempts to create a new signal within a predetermined period of time, and/or wherein the act further comprises storing sub-channels identified as unsuitable for communication; and the act further comprises examining a sub-channel previously identified as unsuitable after other sub-channels not previously identified as unsuitable if the computing device attempts to create a new signal within a predetermined period of time. the act further comprises storing sub-channels identified as unsuitable for communication; and the act further comprises examining a sub-channel previously identified as unsuitable after other sub-channels not previously identified as unsuitable if the computing device attempts to create a new signal within a predetermined period of time.