Patent ID: 8605743

Claim:
A power-line communications (PLC) device operable to communicate with a second PLC device via a PLC medium, the PLC device comprising: a transmitter; and a receiver, the transmitter configured to transmit a Request to Send (RTS) communication to the second PLC device at a first power level; the receiver operable to receive a Clear to Send (CTS) communication from the second PLC device; and the transmitter configured to transmit data to the second PLC device at a second power level that is less than the first power level; wherein: the transmitter determines to send payload data to the second PLC device; the transmitter transmits the RTS communication at the first power level wherein the first power level is sufficient to be received by the second PLS device and a more distant third PLC device; upon the PLC device receiving the CTS communication from the second PLC device, the transmitter transmits the payload data at the second power level wherein the second power level is one that is required to reach the second PLC device but not the third PLC device.