In a communication network having one or more wireless communication devices (102a, 102b, 102c, 102d), said one or more wireless communication devices configured to communicate with one or more communication nodes (101a, 101b, 101c), at least one of the communication nodes including a modal antenna configured to produce a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of a plurality of possible antenna modes thereof, a method for optimizing communication link performance between one or more nodes and devices within the communication network, the method comprising: for each of a plurality of communication nodes within the communication network, each communication node of said plurality comprising a first modal antenna: with the first modal antenna in a first mode of the plurality of possible antenna modes thereof: using the first modal antenna in the first mode to survey an environment within range of the communication node to determine a first signal level achieved with each other communication node and each wireless communication device within said range; populating a matrix of data with the first signal levels for each of the surveyed nodes and devices corresponding to the first mode of the first modal antenna; reconfiguring the first modal antenna in a second mode of the plurality of possible antenna modes thereof: using the first modal antenna in the second mode to survey the environment within range of the communication node to determine a second signal level achieved with each other communication node and each wireless communication device within said range; further populating the matrix of data with the second signal levels for each of the surveyed nodes and devices corresponding to the second mode of the first modal antenna; and selecting a preferred mode of the first modal antenna based on the matrix of data, wherein the preferred mode provides optimal link performance and minimized interferers within the communication network, the method further comprising: designating one of the plurality of communication nodes within the communication network as a master communication node, the method further comprising: for each of the plurality of communication nodes: communicating the respective matrix of data to the master communication node. with the first modal antenna in a first mode of the plurality of possible antenna modes thereof: using the first modal antenna in the first mode to survey an environment within range of the communication node to determine a first signal level achieved with each other communication node and each wireless communication device within said range; populating a matrix of data with the first signal levels for each of the surveyed nodes and devices corresponding to the first mode of the first modal antenna; using the first modal antenna in the first mode to survey an environment within range of the communication node to determine a first signal level achieved with each other communication node and each wireless communication device within said range; populating a matrix of data with the first signal levels for each of the surveyed nodes and devices corresponding to the first mode of the first modal antenna; reconfiguring the first modal antenna in a second mode of the plurality of possible antenna modes thereof: using the first modal antenna in the second mode to survey the environment within range of the communication node to determine a second signal level achieved with each other communication node and each wireless communication device within said range; further populating the matrix of data with the second signal levels for each of the surveyed nodes and devices corresponding to the second mode of the first modal antenna; and using the first modal antenna in the second mode to survey the environment within range of the communication node to determine a second signal level achieved with each other communication node and each wireless communication device within said range; further populating the matrix of data with the second signal levels for each of the surveyed nodes and devices corresponding to the second mode of the first modal antenna; and selecting a preferred mode of the first modal antenna based on the matrix of data, wherein the preferred mode provides optimal link performance and minimized interferers within the communication network, the method further comprising: designating one of the plurality of communication nodes within the communication network as a master communication node, the method further comprising: for each of the plurality of communication nodes: communicating the respective matrix of data to the master communication node.