KenF:
Do you have a link that describes "NRF"?
somehow I missed you in all of this
http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Nrf24L01-2.4GHz-HowTo
http://playground.arduino.cc/InterfacingWithHardware/Nrf24L01
these should get you started, they are a 2.4ghz tranciever and they can use a multitude of channels.
also they range from bout $1.50 up to $20 depending on range. from what I gather programming is same for all. I was going to buy 2 of the decent range ones and bout 10 of the small range ones. I was also looking at using them to echo commands one da to extend range but right now if they transmit 5metres and do what I want it to do it will be a huge step.
http://www.mysensors.org/build/components#the-brain this page shows the basis for what I want to do but am going to extend on theirs. what I see is you have to tell the computer what type of sensor you have, what I want the arduino to do is tell the nrf to transmit its details and then the PC can send commands back or get readings. even if I have to set it up so channels 1-10 are weather 11-20 are power usage 21-30 are on/off switches etc. then I will be happy