An apparatus for bridging a barrier to wireless communication between a first wireless field device network and a second wireless field device network, the apparatus comprising: a first locally-powered wireless device in wireless communication with the first wireless field device network, the first wireless device comprising: a first data router; a first local power source; a first transceiver; and a first antenna; a second wireless device in wireless communication with the second wireless field device network, the second wireless device comprising: a second transceiver; and a second antenna; and characterized by a wired link connecting the first wireless device to the second wireless device, wherein the wired link spans the barrier to wireless communication between the first wireless field device network and the second wireless field device network; wherein messages from the first wireless field device network addressed to a member node of the second wireless field device network, received by the first wireless device and transmitted into the second wireless field device network by the second wireless device for routing to the member node of the second wireless network, cross the barrier to wireless communication via the wired link; and wherein the second wireless device is powered by the first power source through the wired link and the wired link is powered exclusively by the first local power source. a first data router; a first local power source; a first transceiver; and a first antenna; a second wireless device in wireless communication with the second wireless field device network, the second wireless device comprising: a second transceiver; and a second antenna; and characterized by a wired link connecting the first wireless device to the second wireless device, wherein the wired link spans the barrier to wireless communication between the first wireless field device network and the second wireless field device network; wherein messages from the first wireless field device network addressed to a member node of the second wireless field device network, received by the first wireless device and transmitted into the second wireless field device network by the second wireless device for routing to the member node of the second wireless network, cross the barrier to wireless communication via the wired link; and wherein the second wireless device is powered by the first power source through the wired link and the wired link is powered exclusively by the first local power source. a second transceiver; and a second antenna; and characterized by a wired link connecting the first wireless device to the second wireless device, wherein the wired link spans the barrier to wireless communication between the first wireless field device network and the second wireless field device network; wherein messages from the first wireless field device network addressed to a member node of the second wireless field device network, received by the first wireless device and transmitted into the second wireless field device network by the second wireless device for routing to the member node of the second wireless network, cross the barrier to wireless communication via the wired link; and wherein the second wireless device is powered by the first power source through the wired link and the wired link is powered exclusively by the first local power source.