Embodiments of methods of assigning a channel to a link of an access node within a wireless mesh network, is disclosed. The method includes the access node receiving beacons over multiple channels, from at least one upstream device, and the access node selecting an uplink channel based upon the received beacons. Additional methods include the access node selecting a downlink channel so that different channels are assigned to consecutive links within a data path between a gateway and a down stream device. The different channels can include non-overlapping channels, or a combination of non-overlapping and at least partially overlapping channels. The method can further include selecting a downstream link channel based upon predetermined sequences of channel selections, and a hop count of the access node.