Missions & Complexes

The more deserted the better. And random is random. Some days I get no Radars.

Two things.

First off, you should be looking around in all highsec systems (0.5-1.0), the common belief (as indicated by everything everyone has seen or heard from a dev) is that all highsec systems are just as likely to spawn any sig.

Second, the reason there's so much competition for sites is because you're in Cal space, the most contested exploration area in the game. As XXSketchxx said, probing in another faction's space can help.

Because of their weak scan strength there's a trick that allows you to differentiate sigs by their size and cathegory.
However, with experience, you can do something similiar with normal core probes and i suggest getting astro to V only if you're really dedicated about the whole explo thing.

High sec NPCs are pretty weak, you could kill them with an exploring frig.

However high sec explo is best done in a t3: no risk of losing it, fast scanning and high dps.

I suggest you re-read the guide again instead of skimming through it, it's not about acquiring signature with higher strength and scan every single one of them down to try your luck.

It's about filtering out the ones and mostly avoid wasting time on the sites you know that you don't want to do.

for example, if you're low skill in combat sp atm, there's not much but you probably not going to be able to do anything higher than the lookout level combat signatures.

However, if you are looking at radar / mag sites, then simply avoid the entire k162 band of signals because it's more efficient that you spend your time on the other bands then keep hitting on WH signatures and waste your time scanning them down when you have no intention to venture in there yet.

Assuming your scan strength is 7.8, then you simply avoid the band with roughly 0.15 and 0.10 signals (DSP @ 256au) to avoid the C1 and C2 WHs, that will save you a lot of time. sure you're going to miss out some radar/mag/combat sites that share the same band, but what you lose here, you gain in the time to scan down (hopefully) more prominent signatures.

radar and mag sites don't spawn big ships often in highsec, so look into anything 0.5 or above, those rats if spawned in radar/mag sites, they are usually in groups of 2~3, your drones can easily fend them off for you as long as your fit is at least half decent.

Yea I did read it, i still cant use a DSP for a week or so from now. I was wondering if there was such a tool for normal probes, that would proove incredibly useful.


My success has changed since moving to khanid space. Sadly i now find radar sites that block me at 95% strength. I will have to wait until my frigate level 4 finishes and then start on astro V.

Thanks for the answers.

Try using 7 Probes that's helped me a ton what would N,S,W,E and Center (on the horizontal plane) then North and South of the Center probes on the Vertical Plane. Use your shift and alt keys accordingly to speed up your setup times on acquiring signatures. If exploration is going to be your thing for the long haul I would highly recommend getting yourself skilled up to a Tech III cruiser so you can essentially get 100% on all bonuses. As other have already said get yourself a SOE Probe Launcher and SOE Core Scan Probes and you'll be alot better off.

You don't need a rigged cov ops to explore. In fact this is a terrible way to do exploration in high sec because the competition is so high that buy the time you switch ships and get back to the site you found, the site will likely be gone.

I'm sure you'll retort that it "works for you" but its simply not efficient at all.

I would say you might have better luck in a highsec pocket, but I see plenty of competition out there these days. I usually just goto low sec these days, far fewer wormholes and no bubbles to worry about.

Which is exactly why high sec exploration is not a viable source of isk and a total waste of play time. If you really want to explore and do sites that are viable as sources of income with potential to find hidden diamonds then you have to go null sec.

I will retort it works for me because....it does.

73 probe strength just isn't enough in null to find anything decent with 5 probes. I have something around the 121 mark and scanning is a pleasure but clearly not fully skilled. I would love a Virtue set to make scanning boss-like ):

And forget weekends in high sec.

Otherwise just take.your.time.\



I got dragged kicking and screaming to 7 probes and now would never go back.