Sonde with advanced battery power conservation and associated methods

A transmitter for use in conjunction with a horizontal directional drilling system that includes a drill string that extends from a drill rig to an inground tool which supports the transmitter such that extension and retraction of the drill string moves the inground tool through the ground during an inground operation, said transmitter comprising:

• an antenna;
• a sensor section at least including an orientation sensor for generating sensor data;
• an antenna driver configured for selectively driving the antenna to emit a locating signal for aboveground reception such that the locating signal carries the sensor data;
• and
• a processor for controlling the antenna driver to transmit the locating signal during a normal mode and to enter a sleep state that disables at least the sensor section and the antenna driver such that the locating signal is not transmitted responsive to detecting that the transmitter is inactive and said processor is further configured to enter the sleep state from a snooze mode such that the snooze mode disables the antenna driver so that the locating signal is not transmitted, without disabling the sensor section, and the snooze mode requires less power than the normal mode but more power than the sleep state.