connection without excessive twisting fatigue on the cables excess cable length is pushed into the lower pin end of pipe section 46 after the connectors are mated and before the pipe joint is made up in starting a hole using this system the lower end of the pipe and tool string are made up in the manner described with a section of drill pipe 46 at its upper end the coiled cable 71 is passed through the passage 42 in side entry sub 41 female connector end first the male connector has a threaded portion for engagement with mating female threads in the passage 42 an annular flange 76 on the male connector engages the shoulder 43 in the passage 42 to seat the connector therein means now shown are made for providing a ground connection between plug 72 and the sub 41 or between a tandem plug and the sub this completes the electrical path in the system using the pipe string as the ground path the side entry sub is then made up on the upper end of the top pipe section with the coil accommodating the relative turning motion of the sub 41 and pipe 46 to prevent excessive twisting of the cable 71 when the drilling has progressed to the extent that the carriage 27 is near the bottom of ramp 24 the pipe string below the side entry sub 41 is unthreaded the carriage is retracted up the ramp and another section of pipe 46 is made up in the string as described above the above system permits the steering tool to be operated continuously throughout the drilling operation of the pilot hole and thus precisely control the direction of the hole at the same time costly downtime previously associated with stopping the drilling.