To properly activate the repeater’s special functions, the DTMF tones generated by your radio must be recognizable by the controller.  If you are having difficulties with a tone-activated feature, your tone pad can be tested by the repeater by identifying yourself clearly and sending a 5 followed immediately by up to 32 digits.  When you release your PTT switch, the repeater will read back everything it recognized after the initial 5.  “Sierra” is read back for * and “P” is read back for #.  To check a key for intermittent operation, send it several times.  The repeater should read back the digit once for each time it was pressed.