A communication system for an altitude changing object , the system comprising: an antenna system having one or more antennas , each of the one or more antennas associated with a single fixed radiation pattern; and one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to execute a control routine to perform operations, the operations comprising: detecting a trigger condition prior to the altitude changing object communicating with one or more nodes in a communication network, the trigger condition comprising a change in an operating condition of the altitude changing object ; responsive to detecting the trigger condition, obtaining data indicative of one or more communication parameters associated with the altitude changing object , the one or more communication parameters comprising an altitude of the altitude changing object ; determining a transmit power for each of the one or more antennas based at least in part on the one or more communication parameters; and controlling the antenna system based at least in part on the transmit power to communicate with the one or more nodes in the communication network; characterized in that the antenna system is cycled through a plurality of transmit powers when the altitude changing object changes altitude by a certain threshold. an antenna system having one or more antennas , each of the one or more antennas associated with a single fixed radiation pattern; and one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to execute a control routine to perform operations, the operations comprising: detecting a trigger condition prior to the altitude changing object communicating with one or more nodes in a communication network, the trigger condition comprising a change in an operating condition of the altitude changing object ; responsive to detecting the trigger condition, obtaining data indicative of one or more communication parameters associated with the altitude changing object , the one or more communication parameters comprising an altitude of the altitude changing object ; determining a transmit power for each of the one or more antennas based at least in part on the one or more communication parameters; and controlling the antenna system based at least in part on the transmit power to communicate with the one or more nodes in the communication network; characterized in that the antenna system is cycled through a plurality of transmit powers when the altitude changing object changes altitude by a certain threshold. detecting a trigger condition prior to the altitude changing object communicating with one or more nodes in a communication network, the trigger condition comprising a change in an operating condition of the altitude changing object ; responsive to detecting the trigger condition, obtaining data indicative of one or more communication parameters associated with the altitude changing object , the one or more communication parameters comprising an altitude of the altitude changing object ; determining a transmit power for each of the one or more antennas based at least in part on the one or more communication parameters; and controlling the antenna system based at least in part on the transmit power to communicate with the one or more nodes in the communication network; characterized in that the antenna system is cycled through a plurality of transmit powers when the altitude changing object changes altitude by a certain threshold. <EOS>