A method of wireless communication between a vehicle locating unit and a plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) that are disposed on or in a same object, the vehicle locating unit and each of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) having receiver portions and transmitter portions, the method comprising: adapting the transmitter portion of each of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) to generate transmission signals to be received by the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit; generating transmission signals by at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2), wherein the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) include a signal having a prolonged preamble providing indicia of a desire to communicate data with the vehicle locating unit characterized in that the method further comprises: adapting the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit to listen for the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) for a first period of time (T listen) during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time (T listen); estimating a likelihood that a received signal corresponds to the signal having a prolonged preamble using a counter; acknowledging detected transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2); upon acknowledgement, establishing a communication link between the vehicle locating unit and a corresponding source of detected transmission signals; and communicating data between the vehicle locating unit and the corresponding source of detected transmission signals in accordance with discrete timing information. adapting the transmitter portion of each of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) to generate transmission signals to be received by the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit; generating transmission signals by at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2), wherein the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) include a signal having a prolonged preamble providing indicia of a desire to communicate data with the vehicle locating unit characterized in that the method further comprises: adapting the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit to listen for the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) for a first period of time (T listen) during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time (T listen); estimating a likelihood that a received signal corresponds to the signal having a prolonged preamble using a counter; acknowledging detected transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2); upon acknowledgement, establishing a communication link between the vehicle locating unit and a corresponding source of detected transmission signals; and communicating data between the vehicle locating unit and the corresponding source of detected transmission signals in accordance with discrete timing information. adapting the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit to listen for the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2) for a first period of time (T listen) during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time (T listen); estimating a likelihood that a received signal corresponds to the signal having a prolonged preamble using a counter; acknowledging detected transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices (PD1, PD2); upon acknowledgement, establishing a communication link between the vehicle locating unit and a corresponding source of detected transmission signals; and communicating data between the vehicle locating unit and the corresponding source of detected transmission signals in accordance with discrete timing information.