you want more uptime than downtime, then here are four WORKING options:
1. Plastic. Requires quite a bit of learning and you will have to buy programmer and possibly some other equipment, and of course a ROM102 card. But your uptime is very good. Can be susceptable to ECMs and there is a risk of having your card looped. ROM102 cards are selling for $200 to $300 on ebay.
2. If you've got a lot of balls, then go with a Neosat. It's uptime will be at least as good as plastic. Another plus is that it is cheap; but you will need an always-on connection to the Internet. Downside is that we don't know how safe it is because it does grab card keys from across the Internet.
3. My personal fave: C00lsat with an x2 reader and a ROM102 card. Downside is that you will have to buy an unlocked ROM102 card. Upside is that your uptime will be better than plastic and you will be more protected from ECMs (bin has a built-in blocker).
4. Sub sharing will get you 99% uptime but you don't get free PPV or pr0n. You will have to share the cost of a sub.
If you continue to buy other FTA receivers, and God forbid, clones, then you will continuously be in the dark.