Node device, repeater and methods for use therewith

A method comprising:

• receiving a subset of a plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves has a corresponding plurality of non-optical carrier frequencies and is bound to a physical structure of a transmission medium;
• passing ones of the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves not included in the subset along the physical structure of the transmission medium;
• receiving second guided electromagnetic waves that include second signals from at least one remote device, and
• selecting one of a plurality of repeating modes in response to the second signals.

A repeater comprising:

• a first coupling device configured to receive a subset of a plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves has a corresponding plurality of non-optical carrier frequencies and is bound to a first physical interface of a first transmission medium, wherein at least one of the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves propagates longitudinally along the transmission medium, without requiring an electrical return path, via a guided wave mode that is absent from at least one other of the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves;
• processing circuitry configured to generate repeated signals based on the subset of the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves;
• and
• a second coupling device configured to launch the repeated signals as at least one second guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to a second physical interface of a second transmission medium.