A wireless communication apparatus, comprising: two housings, each housing configured to be positioned inside of, and proximate to a corresponding end of, a drill pipe suitable for use as part of a drill string, each housing having an interior, a circumference, and an axial end, and each housing comprising: an antenna housed in the interior of the housing and configured such that at least one radio frequency signal propagation path of the antenna is substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing; an RF module housed in the interior of the housing and coupled to the antenna; one or more batteries housed in the interior of the housing, the one or more batteries being coupled and providing power to the RF module; and a power source module housed in the interior of the housing, the power source module being coupled to and charging the one or more batteries, wherein the power source module comprises a power source selected from the group consisting of a kinetic microgenerator and a thermal microgenerator; and a communication cable coupling to the RF modules of the housings, wherein the RF module of each housing is configured to provide at least part of a data retransmission function between an RF signal present on the corresponding antenna and a data signal present on the communication cable; wherein a radiotransparent material, which is transparent to RF signals within the operating frequency range of the RF module, is positioned along the circumference, and at or near an axial end, of each housing that is most proximate to the antenna; wherein at least some axially propagated RF signals, which pass between each antenna and a region axially proximate to said axial end of the corresponding housing, pass through the radiotransparent material along said at least one RF signal propagation path. two housings, each housing configured to be positioned inside of, and proximate to a corresponding end of, a drill pipe suitable for use as part of a drill string, each housing having an interior, a circumference, and an axial end, and each housing comprising: an antenna housed in the interior of the housing and configured such that at least one radio frequency signal propagation path of the antenna is substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing; an RF module housed in the interior of the housing and coupled to the antenna; one or more batteries housed in the interior of the housing, the one or more batteries being coupled and providing power to the RF module; and a power source module housed in the interior of the housing, the power source module being coupled to and charging the one or more batteries, wherein the power source module comprises a power source selected from the group consisting of a kinetic microgenerator and a thermal microgenerator; and an antenna housed in the interior of the housing and configured such that at least one radio frequency signal propagation path of the antenna is substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing; an RF module housed in the interior of the housing and coupled to the antenna; one or more batteries housed in the interior of the housing, the one or more batteries being coupled and providing power to the RF module; and a power source module housed in the interior of the housing, the power source module being coupled to and charging the one or more batteries, wherein the power source module comprises a power source selected from the group consisting of a kinetic microgenerator and a thermal microgenerator; and a communication cable coupling to the RF modules of the housings, wherein the RF module of each housing is configured to provide at least part of a data retransmission function between an RF signal present on the corresponding antenna and a data signal present on the communication cable; wherein a radiotransparent material, which is transparent to RF signals within the operating frequency range of the RF module, is positioned along the circumference, and at or near an axial end, of each housing that is most proximate to the antenna; wherein at least some axially propagated RF signals, which pass between each antenna and a region axially proximate to said axial end of the corresponding housing, pass through the radiotransparent material along said at least one RF signal propagation path.