Integrated housing electronics for wireless telemetry system of drilling unit

A horizontal directional drilling system including a horizontal directional drilling rig and a walkover locator, the horizontal directional drilling system configured for wireless communication with the walkover locator, the horizontal directional drilling system comprising:

• a drill head;
• a drill string comprised of a plurality of releasably interconnected drill rods, the drill string including a first drill rod in the drill string, the first drill rod releasably connected to the drill head;
• and
• a drill head wireless transmitter incorporated in the drill head of the drilling system, the drill head wireless transmitter configured to generate one or more data signals based on an operation of the drill head, the drill head wireless transmitter comprising:
• a central structural member;
• an antenna core surrounding the central structural member;
• a wire coil positioned around an outside of the antenna core, the wire coil and the antenna core defining an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly configured to wirelessly transmit data signals from electronics associated with the drill string;
• a conductive wear protection shell mounted around the antenna assembly, the conductive wear protection shell configured to minimize a formation of any eddy currents therein during operation of the antenna assembly, the conductive wear protection shell including at least one slot therein, the at least one slot continuously extending at least a length of at least one of the antenna core or the wire coil, the at least one slot extending at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal extension of the central structural member, the at least one slot configured to interrupt eddy current formation within the conductive wear protection shell;
• and
• at least one data link transceiver including the antenna assembly and configured to be wirelessly coupled to another data link transceiver, which itself is coupled to a further data link transceiver, the at least one data link transceiver configured to be physically coupled within the drill string and spaced apart from the other data link transceiver and the further data link transceiver via one or more intervening drill rods, the at least one data link transceiver and the other data link transceiver and the further data link transceiver together configured to wirelessly communicate the data signals beyond the drill head wireless transmitter along at least a portion of the drill string and with the walkover locator.