Once installed and adjusted, most of those diplexed AM directionals have very low maintenance. Most of the work is in the design and installation.Thank you for enlightening us on this. I didn’t know WRCA had abandoned its 3-tower Lexington site.
I agree, multiplexed directional arrays, while a marvel of engineering know-how, must be high maintenance.
Once the adjustments in the field are done, unless there is some kind of variable such as installation of a new nearby power line, a big building or changes in ground water levels, a well installed system is stable. I'd say that the saving on property taxes, ground maintenance and such more than make it worthwhile.
But the initial system of filters is very expensive, which is why some stations... particularly those with translators or their own FM... just downgrade the signal to whatever non-directional level is licensable.