Ships & Modules

Depends on what you understand by "exploration".

If you only mean Data and Relic sites, a CovOp does just fine, as there's no combat. And for null sites you really do want a bonused ship for the +10 virus strength, so no Pilgrim. In case that you do want some firepower to kill/drive off other explorers (while still running sites), look into the SoE ships.

If you mean combat sites, a T3 is it.

few things,
First of all I tried some exploration and the basic of it is to discover hidden places or random places in which you can do stuff.

You got anomalies > this type of site can be discovered just by opening the scanner, if anomaly is on the scanner you can warp to it immediately.
Types of anomalies: Ore\ice (for mining.. nothing to see here unless u are a miner), combat site > this anomalies got named rat type and some sort of "rank" to them, Ghost site > it's like relic\data site you can use any of the analyzers to hack them.. catch is once you fail the hacking mini game rats will spawn and attack you and once you warp inside the site a countdown will start which in the end of it huge damage AOE will trigger in the site.

Other type is signatures, for this sites you need probe launcher and to scan their location in order to warp into them, at any rate even if you don't want to do them yourself you can sell their bookmarked location on local or to people you know.
Types of signatures:
Wormhole: an entrence to unique type of space, might be populated and you need to know what you're doing here so read about them first but mostly you'll ignore them.
Relic\Data sites: no rats, but you got number of container in which you'll need to win hack minigame in order to access into, once successful you need to "catch" the loot which spew out in all directions. Use cargo scanner to see what's inside before you hack in order to pick right loot to grab.
Combat site: DED ranks 1\10 to 10\10.. bigger the rank the bigger the challenge and loot. lot to read about those also got escalations and such (can get escalations on anomalies as well).

If you only do anomalies for combat you can use any combat ship without special fit...
if you want to do data\relic sites then shield tank ships pretty much problematic due to the fact you need med slot for this 2 modules and you'll want cargo scanner as well so not much tank.
If you want to do all kind of sites I've found armor tanked drone ships are great! especially vexor navy issue... can use cloak\data-relic\probe launcher and drones for all else. also you can use low slots for tanking.
Also might want to get SoE Probe launcher and probes as they make scanning much easier.

Regarding low\null that's whole different cake... you'll need to learn some pvp tactics check local chat and do some other stuff as well.

my humble 2 isk from my short exploration experience.

so a good rule of thumb to go by when in low/null, only run sites when alone in system, warp to a safe spot and sit cloaked until they go away or jump out of system and come back later, keep cargo as empty as possible and fit for being able to get out quick, is that about right?

Also would you be able to recommend a T1 and cov-ops fit? as i'm rubbish at fitting ships, even in EFT

I prefer amarr, i love the design and look of there ships

Magnate:

3x Local Hull Conversion Inertia Stabilizers I
Type-D Attenuation Signal Augmentation

Limited 1 MN Microwarpdrive I
Data Analyzer I
Relic Analyzer I

Improved Cloaking Device II
Core Probe Launcer I, 8x Core Scanner Probe I

2x Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I

3x Hornet EC-300 (ECM drones)


The signal amplifier speeds up lock times on cans, I can't think of anything else useful for that 4th midslot.

You COULD fit 4x 'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I (warp stabs) BUT 1) longer lock times are a total PITA 2) some dedicated hunters will have more than 2 warp scramblers anyway...

Use T2 Analyzers if you can. Not really necessary in lowsec, but they help a lot with the harder nullsec minigames.

Use Sisters Scanner Probes for higher scan strength, 4Mil for 8. Don't use Sisters Core Probe Launcher or your ship won't be cheap anymore :)

You can switch the scan strength rigs for 'minigame' rigs ('Memetic Algorithm Bank' and 'Emission Scope Sharpener'). You could also use Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizers to warp faster (won't help survivability, but you'll travel faster).

2.2 seconds align (warp-out) time with max skills, should be quick enough to GTFO before getting locked. Inertia stabs increase your sig radius, but your objective is to warp out BEFORE they can even START locking you.

Use MWD+cloak to avoid gatecamps in lowsec. If you don't mind some risk on gates, switch cloak to T1 and save ISK; your fast align time MAY save you anyway (or maybe not ).

Fit has no tank, but if you're caught it wouldn't make any difference

The drones have a VERY slim chance of saving you if you get pointed, but they're cheap, you can always try!


Anathema:

3x Local Hull Conversion Inertia Stabilizers I

Limited 1 MN Microwarpdrive I
Data Analyzer I
Relic Analyzer I
PL-0 Shipment Probe

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Core Probe Launcer I, 8x Core Scanner Probe I

2x Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I

Same considerations as above on analyzers, probes, rigs, etc.

Your align (warp-out) time is now 3.1 seconds. Not bad, but that extra second could sometimes make the difference :)

The additional cargo scanner lets you check cans to assess possible loot.

CovOps cloak is very useful to evade bubbles in nullsec.


Above all, realize that you WILL lose a few ships, don't fuss about it, give a gf in local and grab another one!

Welcome to lowsec and happy exploring

I honestly don't think using Inertia Stabs will save you from a rocket bomber - they have no targeting delay and a reduced lock time on you thanks to the i-stabs. Even if you warp away immediately upon seeing one decloak - which is highly unlikely given how distracting the process of hacking can be - you're probably gonna get locked, scrammed, and popped. You're better off chancing the 4 warp core stabilizers in the lows. The only time I've had an explorer get away from me he was flying a quad-stabbed Magnate. I triple scram my Manticore now because of it, but not everyone does.

If you're dead set on reducing align time rather than relying on warp stabs, I'd recommend nanofiber internal structures over i-stabs. They don't decrease the aggressor's lock time, although they do offer less of an align time bonus than i-stabs do. They also reduce your hull hitpoints, but that's a redundant point since if they catch you you're dead either way.

I'd only recommend using the cov-ops Frigates in 0.0, you really don't need them for lowsec sites. Definitely give the Magnate a whirl. It's the best looking of the 4 empire T1 exploration frigates and it does the job well.

Most people here got it right.
If you do not have tech 2 hacking modules you will need either a tech 2 frigate or a astero the +5 extra virus strength will be extremely good.Tech 1 ships with t1 modules will not cut because you will need more luck that better decision making at the minigame.
Also if you are not doing invetion you want to skip data site because they take to much space*but you should scan them down and cargo scan each container to see if there are any valuable bpcs like tower and Pos modules.
Nullsec is empty 90% of the time.
And relic sites are the big cheese in null way better than data sites in value and in the space they take in your inventory.
Also in null there will be a huge amount of salvage you might wanna invest in a slot 10 implant that increases the life of the Spew containers.

All lo slot fit variations here are pointless and the single stab versions are laughable. Your only security is to cloak up and wait if there is an unknown in the system. Having stabs will destroy your situational awareness. I carry a faction and standard scram and collect stabs from wrecks, 4 at a time. Its a **** job but someone's got to do it.

Stabs increase lock time, so you'll spend more time in sites, so you're more vulnerable.

My experience is that nul renters don't typically come after covops frigates running data/relic sites. But I have had people in interceptors try to chase me system-to-system.

Get very good at hacking so as to minimize your time uncloaked. I've run plenty of sites with people in local, even in station systems. People mostly dock up because you're in their ratting system and they don't want to get hot-dropped.

Getting a virus strength of 40 is very important. It will let you literally blast through some of the easier nul containers in seconds.

Use a covops frigate unless you intent to run Ghost Sites. In that case, you really should use a Stratios or T3.