Missions & Complexes

I just started a new career: exploration. I have Astrometrics to level 4, Astrometric Rangefinding to level 3, and Astrometric Pinpointing to level 3. I've finally figured out how to scan down sites using the probe scanner (starting with the spread formation and then narrowing down with the pinpoint formation), takes me about 10 minutes to get something narrowed down to 100%.

I'm a bit concerned because I just spent a lot of ISK outfitting a new ship and working on a fit that would (hopefully) work well for high-sec exploration and all of the sites I found (only sticking with combat sites for now) only net me, roughly, 2mil ISK per site in loot, salvage, and bounties and took me approximately 40 minutes altogether with scanning them down and running them.

Am I doing something wrong? Should I be running these sites a lot faster in the future (maybe it's because I just started, its taking me a while)? Is there a way to look for higher end sites (like I keep hearing DED 4/10's are good for high-sec but I don't know where to find them or how to tell if it is that type of site)? I was told I could make (if you're persistent, of course) more money doing high-sec exploration than high-sec missioning (even if the sites are hit or miss). I was hoping to make ~20mil per hour doing this which would make it worth my time.

Anyone have suggestions or feedback as to how to make ~20mil or more doing this in high sec? I find it fun but I wish it were more lucrative.

Here is my ship and fit, as well:

[Gila]

Highs:
Drone Link Augmentor I
Salvager I
'Arbalest' Heavy Missile Launcher @ Inferno Heavy Missiles
'Arbalest' Heavy Missile Launcher @ Inferno Heavy Missiles
Sisters Core Probe Launcher

Mediums:
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
10MN Afterburner II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
Shield Recharger II

Lows:
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Shield Power Relay I

Drones:
Hobgoblin II x5

Rigs:
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I



Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate this community's willingness to help.

Since you're using a ship with no scan bonus for exploration (nothing wrong with that) might be wise to change up the rigs a bit and add a scanning rig if you plan on making it a dedicated high sec exploration ship.

Gila has 350 Calibration Points for rigs.
T2 Medium Field Purger = 75 points
T2 Medium Field Purger = 75 points
T1 Medium Gravity Capacitor = 200 points
Total = 350 points

Also you might wanna think about investing in a Hardwiring Scanning Implant.

I have all Exploration skills to lv 5 and have SoE Probe Launcher and Probes on a Force Recon Cruiser for high sec exploration. I had picked the Force Recon due to it being able to use a Covert Ops Cloak for running expeditions that end in low sec. This was before T3 Cruisers were added to the game. The ship can easily complete the mid level exploration sites (Lookout, Watch, DED 3/10) as well as Hacking sites and small anomalies on the fly. I keep a Frigate nearby to run the low level sites (Hideout, DED 1/10, 2/10) and a Battlecruiser or Command Ship to run the high level sites (Vigil, DED 4/10). I use a T3 Cruiser to run the Vigil expeditions.

Since the Force Recon Cruiser didn't have a bonus for scanning, I placed one scanning rig on it = T2 Medium Gravity Capacitor.
I also installed a scanning implant in my clone. Slot #8 = Poteque 'Prospector' Astrometric Rangefinding AR-806

With level 5 exploration skills and SoE equipment, I rarely have to drop the Probe Radius below 1AU to get 100% signature lock. Usually it's just a couple of scans, drop from 4 AU to 2 AU to 1 AU and the sig is locked.

Anyway, definitely train the exploration skills up to lv 5. Adding the scanning rig and implant is just another way to help increase your scan strength.

Something to think about.



DMC


EDIT :

Drop the Salvager module and fit up another Missile Launcher for more DPS to help clear the sites faster. Equip some Salvage Drones trained to lv 4 in order to salvage the wrecks of Commander NPC's.

Upgrade the Invul Field module to T2 and upgrade the other Shield Power Relay I to Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I.

Also a lot of players will blitz the sites, IE, not all NPC's need to be destroyed in some of the sites. Check Evelopedia to view NPC triggers in various sites (Watch) in order to unlock gates or to get the Overseer loot asap.