You open warp points with the "Gravitational Quantum Resonator"; you get the first of these components at Stellar Manipulation Tech level 3, and you can open a warp point up to 100 light years away. Higher levels of Stellar Manip. should give higher levels of the device, with longer ranges.
Given that you're using a cluster-type quadrant, you may be in trouble. IIRC, a cluster quadrant creates Groups (clusters
) of four or five systems close together, with long distances between Groups. So, if you've explored your entire cluster, you may be many hundreds of light years from the next cluster, and even the highest-tech warp point opener may not get you to the next cluster/system.
For this reason, I'd be hesitant to use the "not all systems connected" option in cluster quadrants.
Your ships are "ignoring" you? There've been a couple times this happened to me (generally if the path is too complex), but easily remedied by issuing a "warp" order instead of a "move" order. Of course, if you're having trouble finding warp points...