An access point , for operation within a wireless network , the access point comprising: a wireless interface operable on a plurality of wireless channels; a memory ; and a processor configured to: synchronize for each of the plurality of wireless channels, a set time duration with other wireless network devices that are operable in the wireless network; scan each of the plurality of wireless channels for the synchronized set time duration when a rate of data arriving in a transmit queue of the access point is less than a threshold such that the synchronized set time duration that the access point scans each of the plurality of channels is the same as the synchronized set time duration each of the other wireless devices scans; make a channel quality assessment measurement during the set time duration for each of the plurality of channels; compute a score based on the channel quality assessment measurement; compare the score for each channel with scores based on other channel quality assessment measurements from other access points that are operable in the wireless network thereby to enable determination of an optimal channel for communication between the access points and operate on the determined optimal channel. a wireless interface operable on a plurality of wireless channels; a memory ; and a processor configured to: synchronize for each of the plurality of wireless channels, a set time duration with other wireless network devices that are operable in the wireless network; scan each of the plurality of wireless channels for the synchronized set time duration when a rate of data arriving in a transmit queue of the access point is less than a threshold such that the synchronized set time duration that the access point scans each of the plurality of channels is the same as the synchronized set time duration each of the other wireless devices scans; make a channel quality assessment measurement during the set time duration for each of the plurality of channels; compute a score based on the channel quality assessment measurement; compare the score for each channel with scores based on other channel quality assessment measurements from other access points that are operable in the wireless network thereby to enable determination of an optimal channel for communication between the access points and operate on the determined optimal channel. synchronize for each of the plurality of wireless channels, a set time duration with other wireless network devices that are operable in the wireless network; scan each of the plurality of wireless channels for the synchronized set time duration when a rate of data arriving in a transmit queue of the access point is less than a threshold such that the synchronized set time duration that the access point scans each of the plurality of channels is the same as the synchronized set time duration each of the other wireless devices scans; make a channel quality assessment measurement during the set time duration for each of the plurality of channels; compute a score based on the channel quality assessment measurement; compare the score for each channel with scores based on other channel quality assessment measurements from other access points that are operable in the wireless network thereby to enable determination of an optimal channel for communication between the access points and operate on the determined optimal channel. <EOS>