A method comprising: under control of a node of a network configured with computer-executable instructions: selecting, by the node, a first mode of communication for the node of the network; communicating, by the node, via the first mode of communication, wherein the first mode of communication comprises one of a plurality of modes of communication, the plurality of modes comprising: communication to an upstream node in a mesh network, communication to a data collector of a star network, or communication to a mobile or handheld data collection device; responsive to determining, by the node, a first condition, selecting, by the node, a second mode of communication for use by the node to communicate, wherein: the second mode of communication comprises a different one of the plurality of modes of communication than the first mode of communication; and the selecting, by the node, the second mode of communication is based on a priority order of the plurality of modes of communication, the priority order including the mesh network mode being designated higher priority than the star network mode, the star network mode being designated higher priority than the mobile or handheld mode; communicating, by the node, via the second mode of communication; responsive to determining, by the node, that the cost of transmission for the selected mode of communication is within a cost threshold, determining, by the node, whether a higher priority mode of communication than the selected mode of communication is within the cost threshold; and responsive to determining, by the node, that a higher priority mode of communication than the selected mode of communication is within the cost threshold, selecting, by the node, the mode of communication with the highest priority that is within the cost threshold. selecting, by the node, a first mode of communication for the node of the network; communicating, by the node, via the first mode of communication, wherein the first mode of communication comprises one of a plurality of modes of communication, the plurality of modes comprising: communication to an upstream node in a mesh network, communication to a data collector of a star network, or communication to a mobile or handheld data collection device; communication to an upstream node in a mesh network, communication to a data collector of a star network, or communication to a mobile or handheld data collection device; responsive to determining, by the node, a first condition, selecting, by the node, a second mode of communication for use by the node to communicate, wherein: the second mode of communication comprises a different one of the plurality of modes of communication than the first mode of communication; and the selecting, by the node, the second mode of communication is based on a priority order of the plurality of modes of communication, the priority order including the mesh network mode being designated higher priority than the star network mode, the star network mode being designated higher priority than the mobile or handheld mode; communicating, by the node, via the second mode of communication; the second mode of communication comprises a different one of the plurality of modes of communication than the first mode of communication; and the selecting, by the node, the second mode of communication is based on a priority order of the plurality of modes of communication, the priority order including the mesh network mode being designated higher priority than the star network mode, the star network mode being designated higher priority than the mobile or handheld mode; communicating, by the node, via the second mode of communication; responsive to determining, by the node, that the cost of transmission for the selected mode of communication is within a cost threshold, determining, by the node, whether a higher priority mode of communication than the selected mode of communication is within the cost threshold; and responsive to determining, by the node, that a higher priority mode of communication than the selected mode of communication is within the cost threshold, selecting, by the node, the mode of communication with the highest priority that is within the cost threshold.