diff --git a/scripts/content.js b/scripts/content.js
index f461985..3348403 100644
--- a/scripts/content.js
+++ b/scripts/content.js
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ const pathnameRegex = /^\/\w{2}-\w{2}\/n?iv/;
 const MAX_SIGNIN_ATTEMPTS = 3;
 const PAGE_WAIT_TIME = 3792;
 const MINUTE = 60;
-const RANDOM_JITTER = 0.1;
+const RND_VAR_COEFF = 0.1;
 const SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT = 27;
-const NOTIF_CHANNEL = "snegov"
+const NOTIF_CHANNEL = "snegov";
+const CHECK_OPER_HOURS = true;
+const OPER_HOURS_START = 23;
+const OPER_HOURS_END = 9;
 
 let cfg = {
     activate: undefined,
@@ -50,18 +53,22 @@ function getRandomInt(max) {
     return Math.floor(Math.random() * Math.floor(max));
 }
 
-
-function getJitter(frequency) {
-    return frequency * MINUTE * RANDOM_JITTER;
-}
-
-function getFutureDate(minutes, maxRandomSeconds = 0) {
+function getFutureDate(minutes, frequency) {
     // return date some amount of minutes in future plus random amount of seconds
     let futureDate = new Date();
-    futureDate.setSeconds(futureDate.getSeconds() + minutes * MINUTE + getRandomInt(maxRandomSeconds));
+    const randomVariation = frequency * MINUTE * RND_VAR_COEFF;
+    const randomSign = Math.random() < 0.5 ? -1 : 1;
+    const offset = randomSign * getRandomInt(randomVariation);
+
+    futureDate.setSeconds(futureDate.getSeconds() + minutes * MINUTE + offset);
     return futureDate.toISOString();
 }
 
+function isNoBanTime(frequency = 5) {
+    let now = new Date();
+    return (now.getHours() === OPER_HOURS_START && now.getMinutes() < frequency);
+}
+
 function hiddenPassword(cfg) {
     return {
         ...cfg,
@@ -106,7 +113,7 @@ function ensureRequiredConsulateProperties(consCtx, consCfg, frequency = 1) {
                 "id": consCtx[c]?.id || null,
                 "bestDate": consCtx[c]?.bestDate || null,
                 "currentDate": consCtx[c]?.currentDate || null,
-                "nextCheckAt": consCtx[c]?.nextCheckAt || getFutureDate(0, frequency * MINUTE),
+                "nextCheckAt": consCtx[c]?.nextCheckAt || getFutureDate(0, frequency),
             };
         }    
         if (!consCfg[c] || !hasAllKeys(consCfg[c], reqCfgKeys)) {
@@ -332,7 +339,7 @@ async function runner() {
             if (key === 'frequency') {
                 let wasChanged = false;
                 for (let c in ctx.consulates) {
-                    let newNextCheckAt = getFutureDate(cfg.frequency, getJitter(cfg.frequency));
+                    let newNextCheckAt = getFutureDate(cfg.frequency, cfg.frequency);
                     if (ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt > newNextCheckAt) {
                         console.log(`Reducing wait time for ${c} from ${ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt} to ${newNextCheckAt}`);
                         ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt = newNextCheckAt;
@@ -382,15 +389,17 @@ async function runner() {
         return;
     }
 
-    // Check if current time is between 11pm and 9am UTC (4pm - 2am PST)
-    let now = new Date();
-    let currentHourUTC = now.getUTCHours();
-    if (currentHourUTC >= 23 || currentHourUTC < 9) {
-        // Continue running the code
-    } else {
-        await chrome.storage.local.set({ "ctx_statusMsg": "not operational hours" });
-        isRunning = false;
-        return;
+    if (CHECK_OPER_HOURS) {
+        // Check if current time is between 11pm and 9am UTC (4pm - 2am PST)
+        let now = new Date();
+        let currentHourUTC = now.getUTCHours();
+        if (currentHourUTC >= OPER_HOURS_START || currentHourUTC < OPER_HOURS_END) {
+            // Continue running the code
+        } else {
+            await chrome.storage.local.set({ "ctx_statusMsg": "not operational hours" });
+            isRunning = false;
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     if (isFoundAppointment) {
@@ -579,6 +588,19 @@ async function runner() {
             if (processedConsulates > 0) {
                 break;
             }
+
+            // Reset all soft bans in the first 5 minutes of the first operational hour
+            let now = new Date();
+            if (isNoBanTime(cfg.frequency)) {
+                let nextCheckAt = new Date(ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt);
+                let differenceInMinutes = (nextCheckAt.getTime() - now.getTime()) / (1000 * 60);
+
+                if (differenceInMinutes > cfg.frequency) {
+                    console.log(`Resetting soft ban for ${c}`);
+                    ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(0, cfg.frequency);
+                }
+            }
+
             // skip if not time to check
             if (ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt > new Date().toISOString()) {
                 continue;
@@ -590,7 +612,7 @@ async function runner() {
             console.log(msg);
             await chrome.storage.local.set({ "ctx_statusMsg": msg });
             let availDates = await getAvailableDates(ctx.consulates[c].id);
-            ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(cfg.frequency, getJitter(cfg.frequency));
+            ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(cfg.frequency, cfg.frequency);
 
             if (!availDates) {
                 msg = `Failed to fetch available dates in ${c}`;
@@ -601,21 +623,16 @@ async function runner() {
 
             // if empty list, either we're banned or non operational hours or dead consulate
             // wait for some time before checking again
-            let now = new Date();
-            let currentHourUTC = now.getUTCHours();
-            let currentMinuteUTC = now.getUTCMinutes();
-
             if (availDates.length == 0) {
-                msg = `No available dates in ${c}, probably banned`;
+                msg = `No available dates in ${c}`;
                 console.log(msg);
                 await chrome.storage.local.set({ "ctx_statusMsg": msg });
 
-                // Only set SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT if it's not the first 5 minutes of 23pm UTC
-                if (!(currentHourUTC === 23 && currentMinuteUTC < 5)) {
-                    ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT, getJitter(cfg.frequency));
+                if (!isNoBanTime(cfg.frequency)) {
+                    console.log(`Setting soft ban for ${c}`);
+                    ctx.consulates[c].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT, cfg.frequency);
                 }
-                ctx.consulates[c].currentDate = null;
-            
+                ctx.consulates[c].currentDate = null;            
                 continue;
             }