The invention, which relates to a method for the generation of beacons by a base station in a wireless communications network, consisting of at least one base station and at least one station, the beacons being generated repeatedly at time intervals, is based on the object of specifying a method with which the generation of the beacons can be tailored to needs, achieving a reduction of the energy demand and the emissions, and an improvement in the security. According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the generation of the beacons is started with a switching on of the base station and is ended after the expiry of a wait time tw0 in the event that no station is connected to the base station, and in that the generation of the beacons is started by a receipt of a probe request from a station of the communications network and is ended after the expiry of a wait time tw1 in the event that no station is connected to the base station.