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Do you use a digital controller on your KK? Do you feel you need to use one?

I had hoped to write this in installments as I smoked overnight from the 3rd to the 4th, but I must be toxic to the Forum system. It was down all day for me. So, this is in retrospect. I decided to do a couple of Boston Blade roasts overnight Sunday, to be ready for some family on the Fourth. For good measure, I also did some Beef Plate Short Ribs. This was my first long-term smoke using the CoCo charcoal and my CyberQ unit. I learned some stuff along the way. First, as all of you have warned me, it's hard to get the temp back down once it's up! I managed to overshoot the 225 target (kept it below 300, though) by keeping the top vent open too much. "Too much" was less than a whole turn open, but I soon discovered that I needed to keep the sliding vent on the fan at 50% or less, and the top barely 1/4 turn open from totally shut! I suspect the top vent was probably more important than the CyberQ or the lower opening. The CoCo burned nicely, but I was surprised that after 12 hours it was pretty well depleted and needed to be replenished. Next time I'm trying BGE which, although probably not as good as the CoCo, will be a little more economical. Took me 15+hours to get the meat to 195. After that, I wrapped it in foil, stuck it in a Coleman, and put the beef plates on. I bought these from Snake River Farms. Supposedly American Wagyu, and for the price I think next time I will get some beef short ribs from my butcher. The things were really fatty. I took them to 190 and people were starting to grumble about being hungry, so perhaps a little more time to get them to 200 might have helped the fattiness. I did try one new thing. This has probably been described, but I haven't seen it. For smoking, I love the articles on using a drilled-out cast iron stockpot, couldn't find one in town so Amazon is bringing one. I decided to try 2-3 chunks of pecan double-wrapped in heavy-duty foil, then sticking a knife blade through the foil in a couple locations. I then slid this into the very bottom of the unit, by opening the ash-removal door and putting it in there. I figured, the volatile smoke fragments would get consumed by the fire right above it, and this would still smoke slowly. Seemed to work very well. I love pecan smoke! The shoulder was great (I've been doing shoulder for 40 years, the last 10 on a pellet smoker (Cookshack Fast Eddy FEC100) but for my first time on the KK, I think it went well. NEXT time I'm going to set the CyberQ at 200, make sure it's holding there, and then dial it up. I know, the KK does hold steady temps by itself, but I like to sleep without worrying. 20 years ago, babysitting it with a beer in hand was a lot of fun. At age 67, think I'll choose sleep. Here are a few photos. Time to heat up some leftovers...