An apparatus produces a combined data frame in DHO (Diversity Hand-Off) from data frames each having one or more payload sequences. Each payload sequence has associated with it one or more quality indicators. The quality indicators may be for example a CRCI (Cyclic Redundancy Code Indicator) for the payload sequence and a QE (Quality Estimate) of the data frame having the payload sequence. For corresponding payload sequences from each of the data frames a bit sequence is defined for each corresponding payload sequence with the quality indicators occupying one or more consecutive bits within the bit sequence. A processor selects, as a payload sequence for the combined data frame, one of the corresponding payload sequences on the basis of the bit sequences. The apparatus is implemented in software or in hardware.