Granted it's been a long time since this topic got a posting, but I came in late.......
katlon mentioned that when the NWR transmitter at KGSP has troubles, there is a low-level beep on the audio;
This indicates the transmitter is running at low power; if it's a very old transmitter, they consist of a 100Watt basic solid state transmitter, and a (up to ) 1KW tube-final transmitter. (Which when it is on, the driver drives it with about 40 watts,). When one of these beasts is just running the 100Watt exciter, an additional circuit injects a low-level 'beep' of about 400 Hz, approx. 10 seconds apart, into the audio. The standard configuration at a site is two identical transmitters, 1 & 2. If it's running TX 1, there is a single beep, if TX 2, then double beep.
If the hi-power PA fails to come up, it will stay in 'low-power' mode. Weather Service office can typically switch transmitters from 1 to 2, or vice versa, via another audio tone sequence sent down from the forecast office. If, for example, it's running TX 1, and the sequence to 'go to' TX 1 is sent from F.O., this just resets any PA faults, and starts the cycle for the PA to warm up & try to turn on again. (about 45 minutes from stone cold).
So, to cut to the chase, whenever you hear a NWS TX doing the beepy-beepy; call up the forecast office & let them know. No, they don't monitor it by ear, 24 hours a day.
More details as requested by the forum users.....
Chuk G.
NWS transmitter maintenance for about 3 years, somewhere in an Eastern state....