A method of communication between computing entities in a local area network operating an CSMA protocol in an environment where reflections of omni-directional transmissions from a plurality of objects cause multi-path fading includes data packets being transmitted having a header at a first, lower data rate, followed by transmission of payload data at a second, higher data rate. Where the packets are not confirmed to be received, the packet is retransmitted a predetermined number of times before the transmitting entity reduces the payload data rate of the packet and retransmits the packet. If the retransmitted lower payload data rate packet is not confirmed to be received within the predetermined number of transmissions at the lower rate, the packet is dropped.