A monitoring system includes a central gateway. The central gateway is configured to interface the monitoring system to a WAN. The monitoring system also includes a network of radio telemetry devices. Each radio telemetry device includes a monitoring device, a radio module configured to communicate with other radio telemetry devices and the central gateway, and a processor. The radio telemetry device can be configured to acquire monitoring data and forward it to the central gateway. The radio telemetry device can also be configured to relay monitoring data from other radio telemetry devices to the central gateway allowing for the use of short range, low power radio modules.