Hello Jean Marc,
First, AO-92 is turned off because when tested a few weeks ago, there was insufficient power for it to work for communications. Running it in a cycle of resets/safe mode does nobody any good, so I turned it back off. There is no need to try to work AO-92 until (if!) there is a time when we try to squeeze some more use out of it. Unlikely, but rest assured we'll try...
AO-91 is in what we call "COR" or "carrier operated relay" mode. The IHU is off, so there is no telemetry, but the FM repeater works---IF there is enough power.
There may be enough battery for some function in eclipse, but doing so pushes the cells of the battery beyond what is "a good idea" at this point in its mission. At least one of the cells is failing, and using it during eclipse could do long term, permanent damage to that cell. They are NiCads.
It's been a pleasant surprise to see how long AO-91 has been able to operate in this COR mode--it's been nearly a month since I turned it back on. Please do not use or "experiment" with it in eclipse.
Now, if you cannot activate the repeater on AO-91 when in sunlight, I can only venture a guess---maybe it is the attitude (pointing direction) of the satellite relative to your QTH. At your QTH, is the bird ascending during daylight, or descending? East or west of you? In short, focus your testing when the satellite is in sunlight. That's what you need to figure out ;)
73,
Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]
AMSAT Director and Command Station