A method comprising: initializing a noise threshold value to a default value; detecting an ambient RF noise level on a plurality of channels of a wireless network device by execution of processing instructions by a processor in the wireless network device, the wireless network device being configured to communicate with other wireless network devices of a wireless sensor network, the wireless network devices of the wireless sensor network being synchronized to a common global clock and being configured to operate in a low power listening mode with radios de-activated to conserve battery power when the wireless network devices are not transmitting data to other wireless network devices of the wireless sensor network and in a data transfer mode in which the radios of the wireless network devices are activated for network data communications, wherein the wireless network devices are configured to synchronize their activation so that a transmitting wireless network device can activate at the same time as a receiving wireless network device; if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is above the noise threshold value, adjusting the noise threshold value by an increment and retesting the ambient RF noise level on the plurality of channels; if the noise threshold value exceeds a pre-determined maximum noise threshold value, suspending data communications by the wireless network device; and if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is below the noise threshold value, retaining the noise threshold value and enabling data communications by the wireless network device. initializing a noise threshold value to a default value; detecting an ambient RF noise level on a plurality of channels of a wireless network device by execution of processing instructions by a processor in the wireless network device, the wireless network device being configured to communicate with other wireless network devices of a wireless sensor network, the wireless network devices of the wireless sensor network being synchronized to a common global clock and being configured to operate in a low power listening mode with radios de-activated to conserve battery power when the wireless network devices are not transmitting data to other wireless network devices of the wireless sensor network and in a data transfer mode in which the radios of the wireless network devices are activated for network data communications, wherein the wireless network devices are configured to synchronize their activation so that a transmitting wireless network device can activate at the same time as a receiving wireless network device; if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is above the noise threshold value, adjusting the noise threshold value by an increment and retesting the ambient RF noise level on the plurality of channels; if the noise threshold value exceeds a pre-determined maximum noise threshold value, suspending data communications by the wireless network device; and if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is below the noise threshold value, retaining the noise threshold value and enabling data communications by the wireless network device.