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Setting a squelch tail is the primary method used on the repeaters in my area. You hit transmit on your radio for a second and release. If you here a noise immediately after you know you triggered the repeater.

The only repeater I have with one is the linked repeater. And it's a three tone setup. One tone is for Linked RX, second is for local receiver RX and the third tone is only heard when the repeater is NOT linked to another node or hub. I do this to inform users that they are both local if that's the case so they can switch to the local repeater and not tie up the system. The third tone I use to verify the system is linked up. I can key and ID and know if things are working right or not.

That is what I did to mine, extended it just log enough to hear.

I like courtesy tones for digital radio, where there is no obvious break, but not for analog. I prefer a slightly extended squelch tail on analog. Dealers choice, as the say.

I like it for that same reason.

If you can't find the Midland in stock, I have found the Browning BR-182 spot on for the GMRS frequencies and frequently find them under 30 bucks. It even works fairly well as a base antenna with the ground-plane kit, no it's not a 1486 or something but not too shabby for the money.

I like that....

The most popular Ham 2M repeater in my area (Utah County 146.76) has almost no tail to where slower radios like Baufeng UV5R may no indication or tail which seems to actually encourage "Kerchunking" since people do not know whether they have hit the machine or not. The family repeater I put together had a decent squelch tail but I know what you mean about not being able to tell when you have keyed it up. I was not sure what kind of tail if any I would get from my RICK style repeater but it surprisingly has a decent tail on it. If not that would have been one of my first priorities. My thought is you may see some hams that look down on courtesy tones since the it feels too CBish, yet in my mind they do serve a purpose beyond cycling the transmitter relays. Without even thinking about it, it lets me know if the other operator unkeyed or otherwise dropped out of the machine versus the possibility that it is my receive that has changed, especially when mobile. Certainly there are plenty of ham repeaters out there with courtesy tones and not once have I ever thought to myself, "oh this tone is so annoying". I really have come to the conclusion that there are many people that just want to bellyache and complain. While, I would not add some CB 5-tone "roger beep" I think a modest courtesy tone is a great addition. Even NASA uses tones for the astronauts. ?

Same here. We do have a pretty strong local repeater that has close to no if any squelch tail or ID. It's a great repeater but nobody thinks it works half the time because of the lack of of a tail or ID. It's hard to tell you even keyed it.

That’s the entire purpose of FCC regulations, capturing what it means to the FCC. No more and no less. Fixed stations are radios in fixed locations that may only transmit analog signals directly to each other, using no more than 15 watts output power. They are allowed to transmit on either the 462 MHz main channels or the 467 MHz main channels. They may be operated by remote control. I just added that last sentence, but it’s important because it allows a fixed station under direct control to communicate to another fixed station which you are remotely controlling. Thus, a pair of fixed stations, using audio tones, could be used to control an irrigation system or detect and report various alarm conditions, etc, similar to a very basic SCADA system. Or it could be used to form a full duplex intercom system. Or anything else that you can conceive of that can be done using full or half duplex, audio only with 15 watts. It’s really up to you. FCC simply put some limitations on.

No...that would be nice though.

Can any of those be remotely controlled using DTMF? Especially #2 - Transit Function?

It's been answered.