A communication system in a system for performing an inground operation at least which utilizes a drill string extending from a drill rig to an inground tool and a walkover locator to serve as at least one of a homing beacon and a tracking device, the communication system comprising: an uphole transceiver located at the drill rig; a downhole transceiver located downhole proximate to the inground tool; a telemetry transceiver forming part of the walkover locator; a first bidirectional communication link between the uphole transceiver and the downhole transceiver which uses the drill string as an electrical conductor to provide communication therebetween; a second bidirectional communication link between the uphole transceiver and the telemetry transceiver of the walkover locator which employs wireless electromagnetic communication therebetween; and at least a unidirectional communication link from the downhole transceiver of the inground tool to the walkover locator; such that (i) a first communication mode is provided from the downhole transceiver to the uphole transceiver at the drill rig via the drill string using the first bidirectional communication link, (ii) a second communication mode is provided from the downhole transceiver to the uphole transceiver via the unidirectional communication link, the telemetry transceiver at the walkover locator and the second bidirectional communication link; and a communication manager is provided for managing the first and second communication modes between the downhole transceiver and the uphole transceiver based at least in part on system status; wherein: the communication manager is configured to at least manage communication from the downhole transceiver at the inground tool to the uphole transceiver at the drill rig by automatically selecting between the first communication mode and the second communication mode for any given transmission from the inground tool to the drill rig based at least in part on a current operational status of the first and second bidirectional communication links (2000, 2002) and the unidirectional communication link. an uphole transceiver located at the drill rig; a downhole transceiver located downhole proximate to the inground tool; a telemetry transceiver forming part of the walkover locator; a first bidirectional communication link between the uphole transceiver and the downhole transceiver which uses the drill string as an electrical conductor to provide communication therebetween; a second bidirectional communication link between the uphole transceiver and the telemetry transceiver of the walkover locator which employs wireless electromagnetic communication therebetween; and at least a unidirectional communication link from the downhole transceiver of the inground tool to the walkover locator; such that (i) a first communication mode is provided from the downhole transceiver to the uphole transceiver at the drill rig via the drill string using the first bidirectional communication link, (ii) a second communication mode is provided from the downhole transceiver to the uphole transceiver via the unidirectional communication link, the telemetry transceiver at the walkover locator and the second bidirectional communication link; and (i) a first communication mode is provided from the downhole transceiver to the uphole transceiver at the drill rig via the drill string using the first bidirectional communication link, (ii) a second communication mode is provided from the downhole transceiver to the uphole transceiver via the unidirectional communication link, the telemetry transceiver at the walkover locator and the second bidirectional communication link; and a communication manager is provided for managing the first and second communication modes between the downhole transceiver and the uphole transceiver based at least in part on system status; wherein: the communication manager is configured to at least manage communication from the downhole transceiver at the inground tool to the uphole transceiver at the drill rig by automatically selecting between the first communication mode and the second communication mode for any given transmission from the inground tool to the drill rig based at least in part on a current operational status of the first and second bidirectional communication links (2000, 2002) and the unidirectional communication link.