A method of transferring data signals between a primary station (10) and
secondary stations (SL1 to SL5) of a master/slave radio network,
comprises the primary station assigning the secondary stations to a plurality of
categories (Z1, Z2). The primary station transmits beacon signals
containing indications of those categories of the plurality for which it has data
to be transferred. A secondary station operating in accordance with a wakeup sequence
receives the beacon signals and determines if there is an indication of its category
in a received beacon signal. If so, it transmits a request including an indication
of its identity. The primary station checks to see if it has a data packet for
the identified secondary station and, if it has, it transmits the data packet and,
if not, it transmits a negative acknowledgement. Those secondary stations not participating
in the exchange of messages can revert to a sleep mode thereby saving power.