Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining an optimal path in a mesh network. A pre-emptive message, such as a request to send (RTS) message, carrying, for example, an address of a target mobile device, may be sent from an access point to a computing device in a mesh network. The computing device may relay the RTS to the target mobile device. A clear to send (CTS) message and transmission parameters indicating channel conditions may be transmitted from the target mobile device to the access point via the computing device. The access point may determine an optimal path based on the transmission parameters and send data via the optimal path.