A method of communicating with a wireless station, the method comprising: defining a plurality of independent spot beams (63, 64, 65, 66) to be generated by a beam-forming device (37, 62), each spot beam of the plurality of independent spot beams aimed in a different direction and intersecting a different region of a planar finite area in space, wherein the directions of the plurality of independent spot beams vary in both azimuth and elevation, and wherein the regions of the planar finite area of space intersected by the plurality of independent spot beams is a two-dimensional array of intersected regions; defining a set of multiple beam groups, each beam group being a different subset of spot beams among the plurality of independent spot beams, each beam group of the set of multiple beam groups including more than one spot beam of the plurality of independent spot beams, and each spot beam of the plurality of independent spot beams being a member of one of the beam groups of the set of multiple beam groups; repeatedly cycling through the set of beam groups, wherein cycling through the set of beam groups involves activating in succession each beam group of the set of multiple beam groups, and wherein activating a beam group involves simultaneously generating multiple of the spot beams of that beam group; identifying a spot beam among the plurality of independent spot beams that yields a best communication link with the wireless station; scheduling communications with the wireless station to occur when the beam group of which the identified spot beam is a member is being activated; generating, by the beam-forming device, a static beam covering an entire cellular sector area, wherein the static beam remains on while repeatedly cycling through the set of beam groups, and wherein all the regions that are intersected by the plurality of independent spot beams are enclosed within the cellular sector area; and using the static beam to communicate control information to wireless clients, including the wireless station. defining a plurality of independent spot beams (63, 64, 65, 66) to be generated by a beam-forming device (37, 62), each spot beam of the plurality of independent spot beams aimed in a different direction and intersecting a different region of a planar finite area in space, wherein the directions of the plurality of independent spot beams vary in both azimuth and elevation, and wherein the regions of the planar finite area of space intersected by the plurality of independent spot beams is a two-dimensional array of intersected regions; defining a set of multiple beam groups, each beam group being a different subset of spot beams among the plurality of independent spot beams, each beam group of the set of multiple beam groups including more than one spot beam of the plurality of independent spot beams, and each spot beam of the plurality of independent spot beams being a member of one of the beam groups of the set of multiple beam groups; repeatedly cycling through the set of beam groups, wherein cycling through the set of beam groups involves activating in succession each beam group of the set of multiple beam groups, and wherein activating a beam group involves simultaneously generating multiple of the spot beams of that beam group; identifying a spot beam among the plurality of independent spot beams that yields a best communication link with the wireless station; scheduling communications with the wireless station to occur when the beam group of which the identified spot beam is a member is being activated; generating, by the beam-forming device, a static beam covering an entire cellular sector area, wherein the static beam remains on while repeatedly cycling through the set of beam groups, and wherein all the regions that are intersected by the plurality of independent spot beams are enclosed within the cellular sector area; and using the static beam to communicate control information to wireless clients, including the wireless station.