A system for transmission parameter control, the system comprising: an antenna apparatus having a plurality of selectable element antenna configurations, each selectable element antenna configuration corresponding to a radiation pattern; a communication device configured to operate at a plurality of physical data rates, the communication device coupled to the antenna apparatus; a processor configured to execute a transmission control selection module, wherein execution of the transmission control selection module by the processor causes the selection of a current physical data rate at which the communication device converts data bits into RF signals for transmission via the antenna apparatus; an antenna element selector device coupled to the antenna apparatus, wherein the antenna element selector device is configured to select a current selectable element antenna configuration of the antenna apparatus, whereby a packet may be transmitted to a remote receiving node (130A-C) at the current physical data rate using the current selectable element antenna configuration, and wherein the transmission control selection module is further configured to determine whether the remote receiving node (130A-C) received the packet, and to cause the antenna element selector device to change the current selectable element antenna configuration based on the determination; and a probe scheduler, wherein the probe scheduler is included in the transmission control selection module and is configured to select an unused physical data rate, to transmit a probe packet to the remote receiving node (130A-C) at the unused physical data rate, to determine whether the remote receiving node (130A-C) received the probe packet, and to change a ranking of the unused physical data rate relative to the current physical data rate based on the determination whether the remote receiving node (130A-C) received the probe packet. an antenna apparatus having a plurality of selectable element antenna configurations, each selectable element antenna configuration corresponding to a radiation pattern; a communication device configured to operate at a plurality of physical data rates, the communication device coupled to the antenna apparatus; a processor configured to execute a transmission control selection module, wherein execution of the transmission control selection module by the processor causes the selection of a current physical data rate at which the communication device converts data bits into RF signals for transmission via the antenna apparatus; an antenna element selector device coupled to the antenna apparatus, wherein the antenna element selector device is configured to select a current selectable element antenna configuration of the antenna apparatus, whereby a packet may be transmitted to a remote receiving node (130A-C) at the current physical data rate using the current selectable element antenna configuration, and wherein the transmission control selection module is further configured to determine whether the remote receiving node (130A-C) received the packet, and to cause the antenna element selector device to change the current selectable element antenna configuration based on the determination; and a probe scheduler, wherein the probe scheduler is included in the transmission control selection module and is configured to select an unused physical data rate, to transmit a probe packet to the remote receiving node (130A-C) at the unused physical data rate, to determine whether the remote receiving node (130A-C) received the probe packet, and to change a ranking of the unused physical data rate relative to the current physical data rate based on the determination whether the remote receiving node (130A-C) received the probe packet.