A communication system provides for data collection and route discovery for a network of distributed nodes. A base code having a data collection function occasionally sends agent packets to selected nodes of the network (620), and these nodes in turn route the agent packets to other nodes. A route suitability level is maintained for each node that reflects the suitability of that node for routing packets to the base node (5 10). At least some data packets contain reporting criteria for particular nodes (620). When a condition exists at a node that meets the reporting criteria, a selected packet is updated with reporting data, and routed toward the based node via a neighbor node based on the route suitability level of the neighbor node (550,552,555).