Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention converts a geographically dispersed collection of transceivers into an organized packet switched network with greater utilization of each transceiver and a significant reduction in the number of central control sites as well as the elimination of a substantial number of the ground-based communication links between central control sites and their hierarchically senior data collection elements. This is accomplished by the implementation of virtual waveguides that represent deterministic data communication highways through the plurality of radio transceivers to transmit data from various sources to identified destinations.