Abstract: For use in a drilling operation that includes uphole electronic equipment (120) and a drill string (12) suspended in an earth borehole (11), the drill string having at least one downhole tool (100) thereon, the drill string having a section of wired drill pipe (WDP) that is part of a communication link between the downhole tool and the uphole electronic equipment; an interface (140) for communicating between the section of wired drill pipe and a communication source/destination, including: a housing having a generally cylindrical outer shape and having a passage therethrough; the housing having a WDP end connectable to the section of wired drill pipe and a further end connectable to the communication source/destination; a WDP circuit module disposed within the housing, the WDP circuit module being electrically coupleable with the wired drill pipe section; and a further circuit module, disposed within the housing, the further circuit module being electrically coupled with the WDP circuit module and electricall