Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to, for example, methods for operating a node manager such as a node manager operably coupled to a solar tracker assembly. In one embodiment, the method includes providing control signals to motors of the solar tracker assembly to control an orientation of a photovoltaic array and receiving status information form one or more sensors configured to measure at least one of ambient, operating, and performance conditions local to tracker electronics of the tracker assembly. The method further includes modifying the control signals based, at least in part, on the status information and communicating, via the tracker electronics, at least a portion of the status information over a cellular communication via a cellular link.