Patent ID: 8049506

Claim:
A wireless communication apparatus, comprising: a housing configured to be positioned inside of, and proximate to an end of, a drill pipe suitable for use as part of a drill string, the housing comprising: an antenna configured such that at least one radio frequency (RF) signal propagation path of the antenna is substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing; and an RF module coupled to the antenna and configured to couple to a communication cable, wherein the RF module is configured to provide at least part of a data retransmission function between an RF signal present on the 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 the housing that is most proximate to the antenna; and wherein at least some axially propagated RF signals, which pass between the antenna and a region axially proximate to said axial end of the housing, pass through the radiotransparent material along said at least one RF signal propagation path.