In one embodiment of this disclosure there is provided a method for communicating with a second downhole tool in a wellbore that extends from a terranean surface. When there is no loss of communicability in a second communications medium between the terranean surface and the second downhole tool, the method comprises transmitting a first communication in the second communication medium from the terranean surface to the second downhole tool. When there is a loss of communicability in the second communications medium, the method comprises transmitting the first communication from the terranean surface to a first downhole tool positioned in the wellbore in a first communication medium different than the second communication medium, translating the first communication from the first to the second communication medium, and transmitting the first communication in the second communication medium from the first to the second downhole tool.