A method for controlling transmission power on a node over a wireless ad-hoc network which includes a plurality of sender, intermediate and receiver nodes is provided. Initially, levels of the transmission power of the node are configured. The node then exchange information with its neighboring nodes by sending out a global signal. After exchanging the information, the node identifies a node coverage for the level of the transmission power. The node then determines an effective transmission power (ETP). Finally, the ETP is used to form a virtual cluster.