Systems and techniques for command communication between wireless devices are described. In one implementation and a data gathering device (such as a continuous glucose monitor) and a monitoring/control device, which communicate data samples through a frequency hopping protocol and utilize a dedicated command frequency for the transmission of non-data instructions and acknowledgments. A command mode is described where the command frequency is regularly listened to by a device to determine if pairing or other instructions are being sent. In another example, when communications are disrupted or corrupted and the devices revert to using the command frequency in order to reacquire a paired link between the devices. The command frequency is also used for a flight mode, where the data-acquisition device goes into a low-, or no-power transmission mode and remains in the mode, storing sampled data and until instructed to leave the flight mode over the command frequency.
