If you are unsure how well your transmissions are being received by the repeater, request signal report by stating "N0MRB for a signal report." Any station that is listening can respond, typically by giving a report on the quality and perceived signal strength of the station's transmission into the repeater. The RST system for signal reports is generally not used on repeaters; a simple qualitative report is sufficient, such as "you are full-quieting and your audio is very good", or "you are a bit noisy but fully readable".
"Quieting" is the condition that occurs in an FM receiver when a signal of sufficient amplitude is present. As a signal is increased in strength starting at a level below detection, the no-signal noise heard on an FM receiver is progressively "quieted". At the signal level where the noise ("hiss") becomes inaudible, it is said that the receiver is "fully quieted", or that the transmitting station is "full quieting" into the receiver. There is no reason to increase transmitter power beyond the point of full quieting, and of course amateur stations must use only the minimum amount of power required.
When a station asks for a signal report, give them an honest report, and be critical of all aspects of their signal including signal strength/quieting, audio level, and audio quality. Describe any audible anomalies such as hum, buzz, alternator whine, or background noise. It is meaningless to give an S-meter report on a repeater, and equally pointless to give reports based on arbitrary units or scales such as "you're about 30 percent", or "half noise".
Do not use the repeater as a "target" for aiming your antenna, checking your transmitter power or antenna VSWR, or any other activity that would best be done using a dummy load or on a vacant simplex frequency. Do not transmit on the repeater input without identifying when testing to see if you can access the repeater. This is known as "kerchunking" the repeater, and is not only poor practice, but is an FCC violation. If you need to make a brief test transmission, simply state your callsign followed by "test" or "testing".
A test transmission is a one-way transmission; it is not intended to be a way to start a conversation or solicit a response. If you hear another station making a test, do not respond to them unless they specifically ask for a response which is done by requesting a signal report.
