A method of controlling a size of a contention window in a node in a network, wherein a contention window is a period of time during which a node waits to transmit, upon cessation of radio frequency signals on a particular channel, before transmitting, comprising: under control of one or more processors on the node and configured with executable instructions: maintaining a list, wherein the list is maintained on the node and comprises a size of a contention window of a parent node of the node; setting a contention window for the node to be not shorter than a contention window of the parent node of the node, as indicated by the list; and sending data to the parent node of the node, the sending beginning after a wait indicated by the contention window of the node, wherein: maintaining the list includes: associating a plurality of parents on the list with a plurality of contention windows, respectively, and a plurality of timeout periods, respectively, each timeout period governing expiration of an associated contention window; and setting the contention window includes: monitoring the plurality of timeout periods for expiration; and upon expiration of a timeout period, using a default contention window to replace a contention window associated with the expired timeout period. under control of one or more processors on the node and configured with executable instructions: maintaining a list, wherein the list is maintained on the node and comprises a size of a contention window of a parent node of the node; setting a contention window for the node to be not shorter than a contention window of the parent node of the node, as indicated by the list; and sending data to the parent node of the node, the sending beginning after a wait indicated by the contention window of the node, wherein: maintaining the list includes: associating a plurality of parents on the list with a plurality of contention windows, respectively, and a plurality of timeout periods, respectively, each timeout period governing expiration of an associated contention window; and setting the contention window includes: monitoring the plurality of timeout periods for expiration; and upon expiration of a timeout period, using a default contention window to replace a contention window associated with the expired timeout period. maintaining a list, wherein the list is maintained on the node and comprises a size of a contention window of a parent node of the node; setting a contention window for the node to be not shorter than a contention window of the parent node of the node, as indicated by the list; and sending data to the parent node of the node, the sending beginning after a wait indicated by the contention window of the node, wherein: maintaining the list includes: associating a plurality of parents on the list with a plurality of contention windows, respectively, and a plurality of timeout periods, respectively, each timeout period governing expiration of an associated contention window; and setting the contention window includes: monitoring the plurality of timeout periods for expiration; and upon expiration of a timeout period, using a default contention window to replace a contention window associated with the expired timeout period. maintaining the list includes: associating a plurality of parents on the list with a plurality of contention windows, respectively, and a plurality of timeout periods, respectively, each timeout period governing expiration of an associated contention window; and associating a plurality of parents on the list with a plurality of contention windows, respectively, and a plurality of timeout periods, respectively, each timeout period governing expiration of an associated contention window; and setting the contention window includes: monitoring the plurality of timeout periods for expiration; and upon expiration of a timeout period, using a default contention window to replace a contention window associated with the expired timeout period. monitoring the plurality of timeout periods for expiration; and upon expiration of a timeout period, using a default contention window to replace a contention window associated with the expired timeout period.