According to one configuration, a wireless network includes first wireless stations and second wireless stations. The first wireless stations and second wireless stations support different wireless communication protocols and compete to use a wireless channel. Via monitoring of a control channel generated by a management resource associated with at least the first wireless stations, a given wireless station of the second wireless stations determines availability (unused time slots, frames, etc.) of the wireless channel via monitoring of the wireless channel itself and/or a control channel. In the latter instance, the control channel indicates scheduled usage of the shared wireless channel by at least the first wireless stations. In accordance with the scheduled usage as indicated by the control channel, the given wireless station transmits over the wireless channel during free slots, times, gaps, etc., to communicate with a remote wireless station of the second wireless stations.