Method and system for identifying neighbor nodes in an ad-hoc wireless network including two or more nodes. The method involves generating a beacon signal at a first node of the network for alerting other nodes in the network of the presence of the first node. A digitally generated first spreading sequence is also generated at the first node. Thereafter, the beacon signal is modulated with the first spreading sequence to produce a spread spectrum signal which is then transmitted. The spreading sequence is selected to be a chaotic sequence.