A system, comprising: a welding power supply unit; one or more welding-related devices; and a master node device comprising: wireless communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit and one or more welding-related devices; characterized in that the wireless communication circuitry is configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link having a transmission range of approximately 91,4 m (300 feet) or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network having a transmission range of approximately 6,0 - 7,6 m (20-25 feet) from the master node device; control circuitry configured to associate the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network; the system further comprising: means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network, wherein the means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network comprises a synchronization mechanism that initiates association of a welding-related device with the short-range wireless communication network when activated simultaneously with a synchronization mechanism of the welding-related device. a welding power supply unit; one or more welding-related devices; and a master node device comprising: wireless communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit and one or more welding-related devices; characterized in that the wireless communication circuitry is configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link having a transmission range of approximately 91,4 m (300 feet) or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network having a transmission range of approximately 6,0 - 7,6 m (20-25 feet) from the master node device; control circuitry configured to associate the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network; the system further comprising: means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network, wherein the means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network comprises a synchronization mechanism that initiates association of a welding-related device with the short-range wireless communication network when activated simultaneously with a synchronization mechanism of the welding-related device. means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network, wherein the means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network comprises a synchronization mechanism that initiates association of a welding-related device with the short-range wireless communication network when activated simultaneously with a synchronization mechanism of the welding-related device.