Which "alert" thermometer to get?

egghead43

I'm returning my Maverick ET-733, so I'm looking for other options.  The ET-733 had pairing issues, seemed to eat batteries, and had a clunky interface.  When I first researched it online at Amazon, I ignored all the 1 stars apparently, and only noticed them when I started to have similar issues.  They seem hit or miss.

I'm strongly considering Thermoworks ThermaQ:

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/handheld/therma_q.html

It looks really nice, but it's about 3 times the cost of the ET-733 and doesn't have a remote receiver.  Thermoworks seems to make great stuff, and I'd consider this "top-of-the-line". They do make a ThermaBlu for around the same price with remote capability through your phone via Bluetooth, but I'm not sold on Bluetooth and don't really want to be dependent on another device potentially many years down the road.

I don't think I want a controller yet.  Someone had mentioned a ThermaQ/Party Q tandem setup, and I think I might like that kind of setup eventually, buying the ThermaQ first.

My primary use would be for low and slow boston butts primarily.  I'd appreciate any advice and I hope I posted this in the proper area.  Unless I missed it, it seems there needs to be a "gadget" section

NPHuskerFL

There are so many on the market. Kick Start campaign on a Wi-Fi & ad-hoc supported thermometer. Notifications will send a gentle 10,000 volt pulse to the user in lieu of a text message or email because those can be missed.   

egghead43

I'm researching a little further, and am almost wondering why wouldn't I just buy 2 of these for half the price?

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/chefalarm.html#ProbeTab

Sure, it's 2 different units, but that's not an issue.  One unit for grate temp and another for meat?

Terrebandit

For that matter, you could just get two DOT units and a pit temp probe. 

You could also return the Maverick and exchange it for another unit. Lol

blasting

@egghead43  when you asked me elsewhere about my thermaq, I forgot to mention that the alarm can be set very loud

egghead43

blasting said:

@egghead43  when you asked me elsewhere about my thermaq, I forgot to mention that the alarm can be set very loud

Yeah, I read that.  The downside is my neighbors might not appreciate that! Did you consider 2 ChefAlarms or other solutions before going with the ThermaQ?  It looks like the ThermaQ uses thermocouples and the ChefAlarm uses thermistors.

egghead43

Terrebandit said:

For that matter, you could just get two DOT units and a pit temp probe. 

You could also return the Maverick and exchange it for another unit. Lol

That's true as well.  The DOT is cheaper than the ChefAlarm.  Confused...

blind99

that's a bummer about the maverick.  mine gets at least 6 months of cooks on a set of batteries, pairing always works, and the range is fantastic.  agree the interface is a PITA though.

if you get the thermaworks stuff i'll be interested to hear about it, they seem to make high quality stuff.

blasting

egghead43 said:

blasting said:

@egghead43  when you asked me elsewhere about my thermaq, I forgot to mention that the alarm can be set very loud

Yeah, I read that.  The downside is my neighbors might not appreciate that! Did you consider 2 ChefAlarms or other solutions before going with the ThermaQ?  It looks like the ThermaQ uses thermocouples and the ChefAlarm uses thermistors.

No, I didn't.   My thought process at the time was that I wanted thermoworks quality, and that I was going to go with no controller.   Then I decided I wanted to sleep at night.  

My original logic was flawed (in thinking I didnt want a controller), but the end result of a simple controller paired with the Thermaq is a result I'm very pleased with.

A digiq would be another option for roughly the same $.  Thermoworks was very cryptic when I asked them about a wifi unit, and my guess is this isn't far off.

egghead43

blasting said:

egghead43 said:

blasting said:

@egghead43  when you asked me elsewhere about my thermaq, I forgot to mention that the alarm can be set very loud

Yeah, I read that.  The downside is my neighbors might not appreciate that! Did you consider 2 ChefAlarms or other solutions before going with the ThermaQ?  It looks like the ThermaQ uses thermocouples and the ChefAlarm uses thermistors.

No, I didn't.   My thought process at the time was that I wanted thermoworks quality, and that I was going to go with no controller.   Then I decided I wanted to sleep at night.  

My original logic was flawed (in thinking I didnt want a controller), but the end result of a simple controller paired with the Thermaq is a result I'm very pleased with.

A digiq would be another option for roughly the same $.  Thermoworks was very cryptic when I asked them about a wifi unit, and my guess is this isn't far off.

OK. Thermoworks seems to make many products that do exactly the same thing. My guess is the ThermaQ is the high-end while the ChefAlarm is more of a budget option.  I find practically zero ThermaQ reviews which doesn't help.

Terrebandit

Yeah, the probes is what makes the thermaQ special.  They recently redesigned that unit.  I have an older model Chefalarm, and I use it more than any of the devices I have. They closed my model out when the made the Chefalarm, so I bought a couple spare probes for mine and I'm still on the original!  I'll have this one forever, I guess. 

egghead43

Any other opinions? I'd like to order a replacement tomorrow.