An electronic device (110-1), comprising an interface circuit configured to communicate with two or more electronic devices (110-2, 110-3) to establish a mesh network , wherein the electronic device is configured to: select candidate mesh-network nodes based on estimated performance metrics of the two or more electronic devices to a root device (110-4) in the mesh network, wherein the estimated performance metrics are different from estimated throughput metrics; for each of the candidate mesh-network nodes, perform the operations of: associate with a given candidate mesh-network node; measure the performance of the given candidate mesh-network node during a time interval by communicating packets, wherein the measured performance is different from a measured throughput; and store the measured performance of the given candidate mesh-network node; compare the measured performances; select one or more mesh-network nodes from the candidate mesh-network nodes and determine associated duty-cycle ratios based on the comparisons , wherein, when a measured performance of a candidate mesh-network node exceeds the other measured performances by a predefined value, the one or more mesh-network nodes include the candidate mesh-network node and the associated duty-cycle ratio is one hundred percent, and wherein, when maximum measured performances, which are associated with at least two candidate mesh-network nodes, are within the predefined value of each other, the one or more mesh-network nodes include at least the two candidate mesh-network nodes and the associated duty-cycle ratios are based on ratios of the measured performances of at least the two candidate mesh-network nodes; and communicate information with the root device via the one or more mesh-network nodes using time-domain multiplexing based on the duty-cycle ratios. select candidate mesh-network nodes based on estimated performance metrics of the two or more electronic devices to a root device (110-4) in the mesh network, wherein the estimated performance metrics are different from estimated throughput metrics; for each of the candidate mesh-network nodes, perform the operations of: associate with a given candidate mesh-network node; measure the performance of the given candidate mesh-network node during a time interval by communicating packets, wherein the measured performance is different from a measured throughput; and store the measured performance of the given candidate mesh-network node; associate with a given candidate mesh-network node; measure the performance of the given candidate mesh-network node during a time interval by communicating packets, wherein the measured performance is different from a measured throughput; and store the measured performance of the given candidate mesh-network node; compare the measured performances; select one or more mesh-network nodes from the candidate mesh-network nodes and determine associated duty-cycle ratios based on the comparisons , wherein, when a measured performance of a candidate mesh-network node exceeds the other measured performances by a predefined value, the one or more mesh-network nodes include the candidate mesh-network node and the associated duty-cycle ratio is one hundred percent, and wherein, when maximum measured performances, which are associated with at least two candidate mesh-network nodes, are within the predefined value of each other, the one or more mesh-network nodes include at least the two candidate mesh-network nodes and the associated duty-cycle ratios are based on ratios of the measured performances of at least the two candidate mesh-network nodes; and communicate information with the root device via the one or more mesh-network nodes using time-domain multiplexing based on the duty-cycle ratios. <EOS>