Wireless telemetry system for horizontal directional drilling

A drilling system, comprising:

• a drill head;
• a drill string;
• and
• a wireless telemetry system, including:
• a wireless transmitter incorporated in the drill string proximate to the drill head of the drilling system, the wireless transmitter configured to generate one or more data signals based on an operation of the drill head;
• at least one data link transceiver configured to be wirelessly coupled to at least one of the wireless transmitter or another data link transceiver, the at least one data link transceiver physically coupled within the drill string and spaced apart from at least one of the wireless transmitter or another given data link transceiver, the wireless transmitter and the at least one data link transceiver together configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data signals beyond a range of the wireless transmitter along at least a portion of the drill string;
• and
• a magnetometer module configured to be coupled with both the wireless transmitter and the at least one data link transceiver, the magnetometer module configured to convey data between the wireless transmitter and the first at least one data link transceiver.

A wireless data telemetry system for use in a drilling system, the drilling system including a drill head and a drill string, the wireless data telemetry system comprising:

• a wireless transmitter configured to be incorporated in the drill string proximate to the drill head of the drilling system, the wireless transmitter configured to generate one or more data signals based on an operation of the drill head;
• at least one data link transceiver configured to be wirelessly coupled to at least one of the wireless transmitter or another data link transceiver, the wireless transmitter and the at least one data link transceiver configured to be physically coupled within the drill string and spaced apart from one another, the wireless transmitter and the at least one data link transceiver together configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data signals beyond a range of the wireless transmitter along at least a portion of the drill string;
• and
• a magnetometer module configured to be coupled with both the wireless transmitter and the at least one data link transceiver, the magnetometer module configured to convey data between the wireless transmitter and the at least one data link transceiver, wherein the magnetometer module is non-magnetically encased to avoid interference of the magnetometer unit housed thereby.