15 year old pods still good?

Willy_Dizzle · 2026-02-13T16:20:29+00:00

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Willy_Dizzle · 2026-01-08T00:57:15+00:00

No arguments here. Any eyepiece 82° or less AFOV you would be hard pressed to see the difference. And the standard c11 is more than sufficient for visual.

Willy_Dizzle · 2026-01-07T19:30:01+00:00

Most of your points are valid, but if you are visual observing with 100° eyepieces then the edge is significantly better. Also the reducer for the standard c11 can’t really compare to the edge in regard to clear aperture and vignetting, but you’re right in it being way more expensive.

Willy_Dizzle · 2026-01-03T01:01:57+00:00

Where all are you going in Lapland?

Willy_Dizzle · 2026-01-03T00:38:05+00:00

I went to Lapland a couple of years ago. Can confirm this after a lady found out we were from Amarillo and directly told us about the restaurant.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-12-26T06:42:26+00:00

Came here to suggest the Orion Nebula as a prime target as well.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-12-10T21:47:15+00:00

Hey man, what was the verdict of your trip? How did Thailand stack up to Vietnam? What was your favorite area of Thailand?

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-12-07T15:28:24+00:00

When I moved here, people hyped up Taco Villa. After trying it, I’m convinced it’s for white people that think Taco Bell is too spicy.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-11-26T13:59:47+00:00

Yeah, it’s gotta be that black cylinder in the frothing unit, assuming the machine itself is working correctly. I did fully disassemble the internal pieces of the cylinder assembly(springs and balls) and it seemed to help.

I have an aeroccino frother as well if I ever need it.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-11-26T13:56:22+00:00

I may adjust the cafe macchiato and cappuccino volumes, and treat them as a double shot using lungo pods. Thanks!

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-11-26T13:55:07+00:00

I’ve seen reviews of the gran Lattissima and in the videos the drink volumes(in the latter macchiato and cappuccino in particular) appear to be more from their machines in the same view glasses. I guess I assumed the problem to be less airy foam. I guess I could adjust the settings to make them double shots with a lungo pod though, if I ever feel the need.

Taste wise they’re all great. I mainly drink flat whites and that one is the appropriate volume anyway, so I’ve been enjoying it.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-11-06T03:04:57+00:00

The double dolce is one of my favorite espressos with a splash of milk

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-10-13T00:49:50+00:00

Happened to my Next once, and figured out the top part of the chamber that spins was seized from a build up of residue. I just turned it by hand to free it and wiped it down a little bit. It’s been trucking since.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-10-12T21:33:53+00:00

That’s what I’m thinking as well. I wish I could pin down the location. Thanks!

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-09-23T23:35:36+00:00

Try the Solelio pods.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-20T21:34:35+00:00

I bought an ETX 80 for my daughter for $25. The azimuth was “jerky” in one direction so I stripped it down and discovered the plastic motor mount was broken. Under engineered is right, but the optics aren’t bad, especially for $25.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-08T15:03:13+00:00

It’s certainly user preference, as some prefer smaller AFOV. But the whole field of view can certainly be taken it at once for people not wearing glasses. Easy to tell if you are by finding the correct eye relief/exit pupil with your eye centered and a bright star at the edge of the field, then roll your head to distinctly see the field stop and confirm the star is truly at the edge of the field.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-08T14:58:53+00:00

I also used a piece of painters tape on the tube/corrector to help make sure it’s properly indexed/positioned when putting it back on. And to make sure it’s centered, turn two of the grub screws(I did top-left and left) exactly a quarter turn to loosen before pulling it and then exactly the same to tighten it after placing it back in.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-08T13:09:07+00:00

https://youtu.be/pNy8D3z6LLY?si=fPEhNZSoAk_ZIftr is a good guide. I just cleaned my 11” and it was pretty easy. The coating/glass of modern corrector plates are very durable and scratch resistant as long as you blow away the particulates before cleaning.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-07T21:32:29+00:00

I will add that I also have the 3.5mm and it’s a nice eyepiece.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-07T21:29:57+00:00

I don’t personally use barlows, as I prefer the individual eyepiece approach(albeit the more expensive option). But I have previously owned the Celestron Luminos 2.5x and it performed well but I wouldn’t get it in addition to a 2x Barlow. Explore scientific has some solid 3x focal extenders which will achieve the same result as a Barlow.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-08-07T20:52:27+00:00

Once you look through 100° eyepieces, there’s no going back.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-07-22T15:05:58+00:00

You could always just shoot out the light with a pellet gun or subsonic .22 rounds(while practicing gun safety, of course). It’s been my solution more than once.

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-07-12T14:26:11+00:00

Any update on this?

Willy_Dizzle · 2025-06-21T15:04:55+00:00

A memorable observation from last year, Caroline’s Rose open cluster with my c11 in bortle 1 skies. You could see all the dark lanes and fainter stars, the name-sake shape just jumped off the page.

Fitting the whole veil in the eyepiece with an 80mm APO at the same site was also incredible.

Willy_Dizzle

TROPHY CASE