A process control and/or automation network for a commercial or industrial processing facility, the network comprising: a distributed control system in a central control room within the facility; a first tier comprising a plurality of wireless end devices (L11-L17) receiving instructions from and/or providing data to the distributed control system, the instructions and/or data in the form of packets, each wireless end device (L11-L17) being associated with one or more meters, remote terminal units, diagnostic devices, pumps, valves, sensors, or tank level measuring devices; a second tier comprising a plurality of wireless routers (L21-L29, L291-L293) each including a memory that stores a routing table and a processor that routes packets; and a third tier comprising wireless gateway device (L31-L33) operably connected to receive packets from and transmit packets to the distributed control system, the at least one wireless gateway device (L31-L33) including a master wireless gateway device; wherein the processor of each of the plurality of wireless routers (L21-L29, L291-L293) routes packets across the three tiers between the plurality of wireless end devices (L11-L17) and the at least one wireless gateway device (L31-L33) based on the stored routing table; wherein the network further comprises a plurality of field network sets (805, 820a-820e), each set containing at least one of the plurality of wireless routers (L21-L29, L291-L293) or at least one wireless gateway device (L31-L33); wherein at least one of the field network sets (820a-820b, 820e) has at least one junction box; wherein at least one of the wireless routers (L28, L291-L292) or wireless gateway devices (L31-L33) is configured for wired communication and wired to a junction box; and wherein one of the wireless routers (L28, L291-L292) or wireless gateway devices (L31-L33) that is wired to a junction box is designated as an anchor packet selection device through which all traffic in that field network set (805, 820a-820e) is routed. a distributed control system in a central control room within the facility; a first tier comprising a plurality of wireless end devices (L11-L17) receiving instructions from and/or providing data to the distributed control system, the instructions and/or data in the form of packets, each wireless end device (L11-L17) being associated with one or more meters, remote terminal units, diagnostic devices, pumps, valves, sensors, or tank level measuring devices; a second tier comprising a plurality of wireless routers (L21-L29, L291-L293) each including a memory that stores a routing table and a processor that routes packets; and a third tier comprising wireless gateway device (L31-L33) operably connected to receive packets from and transmit packets to the distributed control system, the at least one wireless gateway device (L31-L33) including a master wireless gateway device; wherein the processor of each of the plurality of wireless routers (L21-L29, L291-L293) routes packets across the three tiers between the plurality of wireless end devices (L11-L17) and the at least one wireless gateway device (L31-L33) based on the stored routing table; wherein the network further comprises a plurality of field network sets (805, 820a-820e), each set containing at least one of the plurality of wireless routers (L21-L29, L291-L293) or at least one wireless gateway device (L31-L33); wherein at least one of the field network sets (820a-820b, 820e) has at least one junction box; wherein at least one of the wireless routers (L28, L291-L292) or wireless gateway devices (L31-L33) is configured for wired communication and wired to a junction box; and wherein one of the wireless routers (L28, L291-L292) or wireless gateway devices (L31-L33) that is wired to a junction box is designated as an anchor packet selection device through which all traffic in that field network set (805, 820a-820e) is routed.