Abstract: A multi-mode radio frequency network comprises a first type of computing device having a radio receiver/transmitter adapted for communication over a narrowband frequency range, and a second type of computing device having a radio receiver/transmitter adapted for communication over both the narrowband frequency range and a wideband frequency range. A network access controller is adapted for communication with both types of computing device over respective ones of the narrowband and wideband frequency ranges. The network access controller provides synchronization signals for coordinating the timing of communications over the narrowband and wideband frequency ranges. The second type of computing device may be adapted for either frequency-hopping or direct sequence spread spectrum communication signals over the wideband frequency range.