Dual mode operation in a wireless network

A terminal device for communicating data in a network, the terminal device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processor to:
• select a physical layer type;
• process received signals to produce processed signals based on the selected physical layer type;
• determine, based on the processed signals, whether a beacon protocol data unit is detected;
• when the beacon protocol data unit is not detected:
• determine a signal energy level for the received signals based on the processed signals when a protocol data unit has not been detected;
• and
• transmit an originating beacon protocol data unit based on the determined signal energy level.

A method in a transceiver for communicating data in a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

• selecting a physical layer type;
• processing received radio frequency (RF) signals to produce processed signals based on the selected physical layer type;
• determining, based on the processed signals, whether a beacon protocol data unit has been detected;
• and
• when the beacon protocol data unit has not been detected:
• determining a signal energy level for the received RF signals based on the processed signals when a protocol data unit has not been detected;
• and
• transmitting, via a transmitter, an originating beacon protocol data unit based on the determined signal energy level.