Positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network are established by defining a grid for the region. The grid is divided into a plurality of cells having a predetermined size. A plurality of static nodes can be placed in the cells. A network identifier that is associated with a standard protocol for the network is assigned to each of the static nodes. The identifier is assigned so as to identify the node and to represent a set of X, Y coordinates associated the cell where static node is located. The X,Y coordinate are assigned to the identifier without deviating from the standard protocol. The identifier is periodically broadcast from the static nodes. A cell of the grid within which a mobile node is located is estimated based on the identifier and an additional parameter received from one of the static nodes.