A system for locating a client in a wireless network. The system includes at least three access points. Each access point is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a client having a location using packeted data, be placed in wired data communication within a selected data network; and to share a common precise time reference using the selected data network. The system further includes a switch adapted to translate the relative position of the access points based on a shared common precise time reference and to calculate the location of the client based on a transmission from the client.