A system, comprising: a welding power supply unit ; one or more welding-related devices ; a master node device comprising wireless communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with the welding power supply unit and with the one or more welding-related devices , characterized in that the wireless communication circuitry is configured to communicate with the welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link , and to communicate with the one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network , wherein the short-range wireless communication network comprises a wireless communication network having a transmission range of 6,0 - 7,6 m (20-25 feet) from the master node device , and wherein the long-range communication link comprises a wireless communication link having a transmission range of 91,4 m (300 feet) or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit ; the system further comprising one or more sensors , and the master node device further comprising control circuitry configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the short-range wireless communication network , and to route the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors , wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide a capabilities list to the one or more sensors upon request from the one or more sensors, wherein the capabilities list includes whether the master node device has access to the World Wide Web (WWW), if the master node device is aware of other master node devices that have access to the WWW, a lifetime duration of the short-range wireless communication network , a battery status of the master node device , and a sleep period of the short-range wireless communication network . a welding power supply unit ; one or more welding-related devices ; a master node device comprising wireless communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with the welding power supply unit and with the one or more welding-related devices , characterized in that the wireless communication circuitry is configured to communicate with the welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link , and to communicate with the one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network , wherein the short-range wireless communication network comprises a wireless communication network having a transmission range of 6,0 - 7,6 m (20-25 feet) from the master node device , and wherein the long-range communication link comprises a wireless communication link having a transmission range of 91,4 m (300 feet) or more from the master node device to the welding power supply unit ; the system further comprising one or more sensors , and the master node device further comprising control circuitry configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors within a physical vicinity of the short-range wireless communication network , and to route the sensor data to final destinations for the one or more sensors , wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide a capabilities list to the one or more sensors upon request from the one or more sensors, wherein the capabilities list includes whether the master node device has access to the World Wide Web (WWW), if the master node device is aware of other master node devices that have access to the WWW, a lifetime duration of the short-range wireless communication network , a battery status of the master node device , and a sleep period of the short-range wireless communication network . <EOS>