Rate adaptation

A medium access control (MAC) device comprises memory, a queue module, and a control module. Memory stores N transmission parameter specifications and N-1 count values, each count value being associated with one of the N specifications, where N is an integer greater than one. The queue module stores a plurality of frames. The control module receives a first frame of the plurality of frames from the queue module and selectively attempts to transmit the first frame using a first specification of the N specifications until at least one of successful transmission occurs, a number of unsuccessful transmissions is equal to one of the N-1 count values associated with the first specification, and a predetermined period expires. The control module selectively attempts to transmit the first frame using a second specification of the N specifications when transmission of the first frame is unsuccessful using the first specification.