A method of operating a mesh network is disclosed (FIG. 6). The method includes receiving a data frame (600) having a header with plural addresses (FIG. 1) and determining that the data frame is not from an access point or a leaf node (602) of the mesh network. A next recipient address of the plural addresses is removed (610) when the next recipient is a final destination. The next recipient address is set (612) when the next recipient of the data frame is not a final destination. The data frame is transmitted (614) to the next recipient.