Again, even in full duplex how do you distinguish between a non-matchinguplink vs non-matching downlink? You only "hear" the downlink!

73, Stefan VE4NSA----------------- Maybe it's just because I maintained repeaters for years and have a 'trained ear', but for me the difference is easy to hear. The downlink is a carrier and has it's own quality of fading that is very different than the 'repeated' audio that is ON the carrier which will have a slightly 'processed' sound. In other words... if the carrier is loud and strong, full quieting and steady strength on RX meter, then any white noise fade 'swooshes' that would occur on an individual repeated signal (but not the subaudible telemetry, which is easily detectable to my ear) would be on the uplink signal. Put another way, if the fading happens to both the carrier & telemetry as well as the voice audio, it's the downlink... if the carrier and telemetry are constant and only the 'carried audio' fades, it's on the uplink.

Just another comment on things discussed... I have only worked a single pass of AO-91 with an Arrow, never AO-85 or AO-92. I have mostly worked these birds from home where my yagis are both same polarity. During my trip I had very good success with an Elk using 5 watts on all the birds. I've read in the past that Elks can have an advantage since the uplink and downlink antennas on the sats are in the same polarity. My observations would seem to bear that out, because I had to make no 'TX/RX twists' with the Elk, even on AO-85. Combined with the ease of carrying and accessing the Elk while fully assembled, it may well become my primary 'roving' antenna. At least for those 'quick stops' while traveling. That said, the Arrow doesn't get left home, either. But it may be reserved for those 'special passes' and 'destination' grids.

73 all, Kevin N4UFO