Have u done it vps way or single wallet? If it's single wallet it needs be open all the time if it's vps once u activated it u can close ure local wallet

If ure just having 1 then all u do is add masternode=1 and masternodeprivkey=jsisbdk to ure conf. Make sure it was only 1 10000 dnet transaction. U will want more than 1 tho get a vps so ure coins more secure as well so u may as well just follow the multi guide.

I have used Suprnova, Coinotron and Dwarfpool.  For some reason, I get more with Dwarfpool and his proxy solution even with a higher difficulty.  5% higher than February with Coinotron.  10% higher than January with Suprnova.  It may have to do with server proximity.  I am using Dwarfpool's server from Montreal, Canada which even though it pings slower than Suprnova, it beats it. 

I just got 6 x R9 280x Sapphire GPUs. Should I use Windows or Ubuntu for mining? I've never used Ubuntu but I'll learn if it has major benefits.