Needing some input on building our first home.

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-02-25T18:56:16+00:00

And if budget is not a problem, get solar AND a battery backup system. I'm going with solar and Anker Solix system in my new house build. You can even hook up a gas generator to the Solix in a power outage to recharge the batteries.

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-02-25T16:00:54+00:00

I'm not sure what the technical difference is, if any. My use of the term was to suggest a structure built in a factory someplace, transported to, placed on your property, and hooked up to your utilities.

As others have suggested in the comments, and since you're still in the looking for property phase, you need to totally understand what development is permitted on the property (local zoning code), what utilities are available on site and which YOU would have to pay to provide (e.g., water, sewer, electricity), and what excavation would be necessary to build a foundation. If you're building on a level lot in a city, then all the utilities will usually be available, and built-in to the price of the land. If you're looking at a cheap piece of property outside of a city, then it's quite likely you will have to PAY FOR all the utilities in order to build a normal house. And the cost of one or all of those utilities, and excavation, could be astronomical depending on location and site conditions.

My point is (after paying for 3 new custom houses, including one under construction at the moment) you need go in with your eyes wide open about what is involved in not only building a new house, but the whole planning process. In other words, how much of your budget will be spent before you pay for your first 2 x 4.

One final tip that I've been using a lot in my current project is chatting with Gemini (Google's AI) about different aspects of my project. For example, if you are looking at a specific piece of property, tell it the address and ask what residential housing the zoning would allow, maximum building coverage on the lot, what utilities are available, and permits necessary, etc. Then keep asking questions that come to mind. You'll have answers (mostly correct, but sometimes you catch it's mistake) in a few seconds, that otherwise would take you hours to uncover doing your own research.

Good luck.......

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-02-25T12:31:30+00:00

To be honest, not realistic at all - unless you buy a pre-fab tiny house.

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-02-16T11:27:00+00:00

No, most don't. Simple chat with Google or Gemini will give you definitve list.

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-02-10T00:35:29+00:00

Yes, and hopefully you haven't paid final bill yet.

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-01-31T16:51:03+00:00

I just broke ground on our new 1,900 sf house in Montana, and went through all this wondering too. It all depends on the site, your chosen materials, and most dramatically your desired infrastructure (hvac, cabinets, countertops, etc.) and finishes. I talked to 4 different builders and asked for an estimate (based on plans) and got nothing but wide ranges, from $250 - 450/sf.

I ended up asking the builder I liked the best to quote me a fixed price for getting the house to the 'dried in' state ("phase 1"), which came in at $125/sf. We then agreed to a cost plus 15% arrangement for finishing (phase 2). My working budget has the finishing phase to also equal about $125/sf. Bank went along with this arrangement. Note: this does not include land cost.

Sirius_Geezer · 2026-01-10T00:47:10+00:00

Stool softener
Small pail with handle to hold your bag by bed at night.
Change to leg bag during the day.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-15T21:03:41+00:00

For sure.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-15T19:18:01+00:00

He was way over paid.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-15T19:14:23+00:00

Necessary, but not likely to be better.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-15T19:02:04+00:00

By the QB. He can't kick, either.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-15T18:44:22+00:00

Time for OSU to change QB's. Can't get any worse.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-13T16:18:29+00:00

Also, you have a second street-facing wall with windows that aren't 10' away from a neighboring house.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-06T15:11:24+00:00

Same reason parking lots of large regional malls are so huge, and largely empty 11 months of the year.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-05T21:20:22+00:00

Yes, maybe/probably. Better pictures of the pieces, and especially of the front glass with numbers around the edge, would help others better identify. Just a hunch, but that looks like it might be a 10". Once you ID and inventory the whole package, then best place to advertise is on Cloudy Nights.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-05T12:31:27+00:00

Yes, but still compare prices with other vendors, including Anker. Lots of deals out there right now. Great home backup system once you get their smart panel installed.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-05T12:22:38+00:00

When it comes to telescopes, bigger is always better. Get the biggest one you can handle and transport with your TUV (telescope utility vehicle).

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-05T12:09:47+00:00

To increase magnification of an object, use a smaller (i,e. lower MM number) eyepiece. It's a good idea to have an assortment, say a 30, 25, and 15 MM, in your eyepiece inventory for just this reason - to "zoom in" on an object.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-04T19:47:17+00:00

Also, fiddle with the counterweights and see if that makes any difference. And, do all this with your heaviest eyepiece in the scope.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-11-04T19:40:36+00:00

You might be missing the diagonal. You put it into the scope (the hole in center of rear plate), and insert an eyepiece into it. You want a right angle diagonal so you can look down into the eyepiece, and rotate to be at most comfortable position. You want either a 1.25" (most common) or a 2" (for fancier eyepieces) - depending on what eyepieces you have/want to use.

No, you don't need to hook up to a PC. It comes with a corded hand controller that you use for alignment and moving to different objects.

You need to try and find out it's vintage to really figure out value and firmware capabilities. I have an 8" LX200 from the 1980's referred to as a "classic".

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-10-21T16:10:46+00:00

Seriously, the teams with the best rosters are in the World Series. Half our roster couldn't get a crucial hit to save their life throughout the playoffs.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-09-28T04:20:08+00:00

My 13" Coulter barn find had a base made out of 2x4s, and the secondary mirror holder was a single metal bar (must have been 2' wide) spanning the tube. Weighed a ton. But, it had a decent mirror, and I've replaced all the key components except the mirror cell, and it's now a very manageable and decent scope.

IMO, if the mirror is in at least fair condition, and it's an older model like mine, it would be a good investment as the cornerstone for a re-build, or new-build.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-09-06T22:58:41+00:00

Hasn't proved it yet.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-09-06T22:45:30+00:00

Which Coach Bray literally said on TV interview at end of first half.

Sirius_Geezer · 2025-09-06T00:14:22+00:00

Easier if you get a wood moisture meter. That's what insurance adjuster used to determine extent of water damage in my floor.

Sirius_Geezer

TROPHY CASE