The invention provides solutions, including devices, systems, methods and
software, for allowing
interoperability between legacy stations and extended-range stations in a
wireless network. Merely by way of example, an access point might be configured to transmit communications (such as
beacon frames, broadcast frames, multi-cast frames, etc.) in a first mode and / or a second mode. The first mode might not employ extended-range technology, such that communications transmitted in the first mode can be received and / or interpreted by legacy stations, while the second mode might employ extended-range technology, such that communications transmitted in the second mode can be received by extended-range stations outside the range of basic-range communications. As another example, the access point might be configured to establish transmission “windows,” such that legacy stations are free to transmit during a first time period, in which extended-range stations are prohibited from transmission, followed by a second time period, in which extended-range stations are free to transmit, while transmission from legacy stations is prohibited.