Jim Kelley wrote:
Since a standing wave is an interference pattern created by traveling
waves, having 'only standing waves' would obviously be an impossible
circumstance.

Time to hit the books, Jim. Standing waves are described
in Born and Wolf, section 7.4, pages 297-281, 4th edition.

"We see that at each instant in time the *phase is constant*
through the first medium." The first medium is where the
pure standing waves are. Born and Wolf agree that the phase
of the standing wave doesn't change throughout the medium.
Therefore, its phase cannot be used to measure delay.

The same material is covered in "Optics", by Hecht, section
7.1.4, pages 288-293, 4th edition.

"[Standing wave phase] "*doesn't rotate* at all, and the
resultant wave it represents doesn't progress through space -
its a standing wave."

If you are incapable of understanding that material,
I'm afraid I cannot help you.
--
73, Cecil, IEEE, OOTC, http://www.w5dxp.com