During the last five years, mesh networks have emerged as a promising new technology for fixed wireless radio data networks. Mesh networks differ from traditional wireless radio networks in that customer nodes serve as part of the network backbone by relaying messages from other customers. However, given the high frequency of mesh radio transmitters necessary to provide sufficient data rates, these systems operate by line-of-sight. Thus, the ability to connect random subscriber locations is a major issue. While a few companies have developed systems using mesh technology, all algorithms for topology design appear to be proprietary leaving little if anything in the literature. In the absence of comprehensive published studies of topology issues in mesh networks, many questions remain as to how to optimally design them. The purpose of this research is to study mesh network topology issues and to develop a model to assist in the optimal configuration of these networks.