System and method for setting a data rate in TDMA communications

A communications system, comprising:

• a plurality of mobile nodes comprising an N number of nodes forming a mobile ad-hoc network;
• a plurality of wireless communications links connecting the plurality of mobile nodes together;
• each of said N number of nodes comprising a communications device for transmitting and routing data packets wirelessly to other mobile nodes forming said N number of nodes via the wireless communications links in accordance with a time division multiple access (TDMA) data transmission protocol using a TDMA epoch that is divided into a beacon interval, digital voice interval and digital data interval, wherein each of said N number of nodes are operative for monitoring channel conditions using beacon, digital voice and digital data interval receptions and providing from each of said N number of nodes a network connectivity performance as valid receptions occur within said N number of nodes, wherein a selected one of said N number of nodes is operative for setting a data rate for said plurality of mobile nodes using said monitored channel conditions for the beacon, digital voice and digital data interval receptions, wherein said selected one of said N number of nodes is configured to determine received signal characteristics based on said beacon, digital voice and digital data interval receptions and select a TDMA waveform based on the received signal characteristics.