Described is a communication link establishment method. The method includes transmitting, by a diagnostic tool, a wireless wake signal on a wake wireless channel to a low-power endpoint in a metrology mesh network. The wake wireless channel is selected using a unique identifier of the battery-operated endpoint. The method also includes receiving, at the diagnostic tool, a confirmation message from the low-power endpoint that the wireless wake signal was received at the low-power endpoint. Additionally, the method includes establishing, by the diagnostic tool, a communication link between the diagnostic tool and the low-power endpoint at a wireless communication channel different from the wake wireless channel. Further, the method includes performing, by the diagnostic tool, a diagnostic operation on the low-power endpoint.