a method whereby a downhole drilling transmission device that communicates to the surface automatically modifies its transmission parameters in order that it substantially improves its ability to adequately communicate with a surface receiver despite increasing signal attenuation between the two as the length of drillpipe increases . this utilizes a simple measure of localized downhole pressure that then relies upon a look - up table or similar that provides a correspondence between said pressure and measured depth . such a look - up table or similar can be readily built by incorporating appropriate features of the planned well such as drilling fluid flow rate , drilling fluid density , drilling fluid viscosity , well profile , bottom hole assembly component geometry , drillpipe geometry , and indications as to whether the fluid is flowing or stationary . upon determining the measured depth the tool then can attempt to modify or augment appropriate telemetry parameters in order to keep the signal received at surface within required parameters , thus offsetting the degradation due to increasing attenuation .