A wireless network (100) and method (200) for assigning a set of channels to a set of wireless devices (102-126) in the network where there are less channels than devices such that wireless devices are grouped in channel groups such that the wireless devices assigned to each channel group are positioned so as not to interfere with each other. In assigning an nth wireless device to a kth channel group, the nth and preferably one member of the kth channel group at a time are instructed to transmit simultaneously in order to ascertain if the nth wireless device interferes with or is interfered with by any member of the kth channel group.