A communications apparatus configured to communicate with a sensor network, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to retrieve configuration data from the memory regarding the sensor network, wherein the configuration data is preloaded on the memory at a first physical location prior to installing the apparatus at a second physical location, select a wireless communication gateway from a plurality of communication gateways in the sensor network based at least in part on the configuration data, and wirelessly transmit data to the wireless communication gateway, wherein the data comprises information indicating a sensor reading.