Missions & Complexes

So, i've been struggling with having enough time in low sec to fully scan down a system for ded plexes.

I've only recently gotten into plexxing (it's hard but a lot of fun) and i'd like to continue progressing into content that feels appropriately challenging for my sp and ship.

That said, I tend to find myself in constant cat and mouse games with gankers as i attempt to scan down low sec systems, which ultimately causes me to take up to 20 minutes sometimes to scan a single signature. And while that can be fun, it gets tedious at times.

I mostly roll in Lonetrek and The Black Rise, is this a part of my problem? Am i trying to newb'plex in regions that are too populated for my inexperience?

Would it be beneficial to me to take a speed fit frigate with a MWD and bookmark myself a couple safe spots @ 1-2k from a random moon in system then do my scans? Or will people still be able to scan me down and nail me despite my relatively random location in space? I don't have any experience with scanning down other players for pvp so i don't really know what goes into that, or how efficient it is. I assume it's a fairly common practice as i've had people find me in some pretty desolate places.

Other than what I've asked about above, I don't really know what to do to give myself a bit more breathing room while attempting to chase down the isks.

can i scan down sigs while cloaked? i had assumed i couldn't and i guess i never bothered to look it up.

Well... I guess the process of scanning down sigs in low sec is realistic after all :D

But if it takes 20 minutes for you to scan down 1 sig, something is wrong with your skills or the technique you use ... with decent skills it should take you under 2 - 3 minutes (usually around a minute) for a sig.

Ah, well you already learned that you can scan and drop. I generally drop probes on exit gate -> warp to safe spot in system and while warping engage the covt ops cloak so I land cloaked and keep scanning. Warp -> cloak if rats or humans there of course. And drop probes at the safe and recloak.

A good way to make safe locations is by bookmarking old relic/data/DED sites, since they usually are off the beaten path and not between 2 gates. (esp. in null this is important, bubbles).

And always always keep a warp to point at 200 - 250km from each gate, for each system, preferably not in line with the previous gate, so you can check out what is waiting for you.

Null is better than low btw, less people, less being hunted.

This is why i like to explore in a proteus. I'm hoping someone like you is waiting for me.