Handheld communications devices include a communications port, at least one battery, and processing circuitry configured to automatically determine a network address of a network node connected to the communications port, to communicate with the network node using the determined network address, and to consume energy stored by the battery. Communications methods include using a handheld communications device connected to a network node, automatically determining a network address of the network node; using the handheld communications device, communicating with the network node using the determined network address; and based on the communicating and using the handheld communications device, verifying that the network node is operational.