Low cost wide area network for data communication using outbound message specifying inbound message time and frequency

A two-way communications system that provides ubiquitous wireless data communication services, such as throughout the continental United States, by using a network of only a few, widely distributed radio base station (RBS) sites and the existing paging network infrastructure. The paging network infrastructure is used as an outbound link to request data from the remote field units. The outbound page message indicates a time and frequency at which the RBSs can expect to receive data from the field units. A network hub or message operations center (MOC) coordinates the operation of the paging systems and RBSs from a central location. For example, the MOC determines an available HF frequency and time for a particular field unit to transmit, and then issues the request for data to the field unit using the existing paging network infrastructure. The field units make use of paging receivers, and an HF transmitter to report remote data such as a geoposition or other sensor data when requested to do so.