Systems and methods for accessing a contention-based communications network are provided. In systems and methods for accessing a contention-based communications network, an access point in the network is created. The access point is a first node connected to the network configured to receive a request from a second node to gain access to the network. A power of a signal transmitted between the access point and the second node is measured. A probability that the second node will access the network is determined based on the measured power of the signal transmitted between the access point and the second node. A determination of whether to permit the second node to gain access to the network is made based on the determined probability.