Each wireless station (31~326), that is, data communication device, is provided with a frame generation unit which generates and transmits a meter data frame addressed to a gateway, and a frame forwarding unit which forwards the received meter data frame. The frame generation unit transmits a meter data frame to which has been added a rerouting attempt count, which is the allowed number of attempts at transmitting the meter data frame to the gateway that the meter data frame is addressed to from a wireless station neighboring the gateway. When the frame forwarding unit fails at forwarding the meter data frame to the neighboring gateway and the rerouting attempt count added to the meter data frame is at least one, the frame forwarding unit reduces the rerouting attempt count by one then forwards the meter data frame to another wireless station.