Tom Donaly wrote:
Here's a more general equation for you Cecil:
(A1-A2)*Cos(wt-kx) + 2*A2*Cos(kx+d/2)*Cos(wt+d/2).

Yes, it is more general, Tom, but since the subject is standing
waves and not traveling waves, it is overly general. Why would
you post an equation containing a traveling wave term when the
subject is the equation for standing waves?

This is the total equation for the condition where power is
being delivered to a load in the presence of standing waves.
The first term makes it to the load. The second term doesn't.

The first term is a traveling wave and indeed does contain
phase information. There's no argument about whether a
traveling wave contains phase information.

The argument is whether the second term, the standing wave
term, contains phase information. Gene Fuller says it doesn't,
Eugene Hecht says it doesn't, and I'm inclined to agree.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp