In one embodiment, a supervisory device in a network forms a first virtual access point (VAP) for a first node in the network. A plurality of access points (APs) in the network are mapped to the first VAP as part of a VAP mapping and the first node treats the APs in the VAP mapping as a single AP for purposes of communicating with the network. The supervisory device determines a communication schedule for the first node based on a radio chain of at least one of the APs in the VAP mapping for the first VAP being shared by the first VAP and a second VAP for a second node in the network. The supervisory device, according to the communication schedule for the first node, causes one or more of the APs in the VAP mapping for the first VAP to instruct the first node to stop transmitting for a period of time.