WiFi or Bluetooth Temperature Probe

Teefus

I've been doing some low and slow cooks on the Egg and with the cold weather I'd rather not have to go outside to check temperature status. What's the "Go To" system for monitoring temps remotely? I'd really like two zones (grate and internal) and be able to use a phone app if possible.

Please enlighten me.

lousubcap

I recently bought a single Meater thermo.  Insert in the protein and it reads the obvious internal temp and the cooking chamber temp as well.  Phone app works well for remote monitoring. 
There are many other options and way smarter cooks here who hopefully will be along.  But it works for me.  FWIW-

EzraBrooks

I like this one. 2 or 4 probes. Battery life is ridiculously good. The app isn't fantastic but is functional and I have been using mine for over 2 years with no problems. 

Limited-time deal: ThermoPro TP25 500FT Bluetooth Meat Thermometer with 4-Probes, Smart Rechargeable Wireless Meat Thermometer for Grilling, Smoker, Oven, Kitchen, BBQ Thermometer with Alarm, Temperature Graph https://a.co/d/4Efwtwe

stlcharcoal

If you have a big house, the BGE is far away, you have brick vs siding, or the bedroom or family room is several rooms away, you might want wifi over bluetooth.  You can test is by leaving your phone outside on your BGE and taking a bluetooth headset or accessory around the house to see if it keeps the connection.  Bluetooth used to be 42 ft line of sight, but it's gotten better.  Either way, Wifi is still better and goes through walls better.

Also, check out the FlameBoss FBT.  That can monitor 4 probes and has a internal rechargeable battery.

WeberWho

+1 on the Flame Boss. Those two probes that come with the controller are normally between $45 - $50 for the set. So you're really only spending $20 more for the wifi temperature controller. You will need to buy two additional probes if you want to use all four ports on the controller. You typically can buy replacement probes from Ace Hardware. Watch for coupons for Ace or buy a couple probes next Thanksgiving with the half off coupons. 

stlcharcoal

WeberWho said:

+1 on the Flame Boss. Those two probes that come with the controller are normally between $45 - $50 for the set. So you're really only spending $20 more for the wifi temperature controller. You will need to buy two additional probes if you want to use all four ports on the controller. You typically can buy replacement probes from Ace Hardware. Watch for coupons for Ace or buy a couple probes next Thanksgiving with the half off coupons. 

Just one quick point of clarification, the FBT is not a controller, it's a monitor.  The FB400 & 500, have the fan so you can control the temp, the FBT does not.  

The FBT comes with the multi purpose probes for pit or meat.  So you can monitor grate and dome temp, plus the meat, or however you want to do it.  The controllers come with the higher temp probes for meat or pit, but honestly you shouldn't be using a controller over about 350F anyway, so I kind of like these multi purpose ones better.

WeberWho

stlcharcoal said:

WeberWho said:

+1 on the Flame Boss. Those two probes that come with the controller are normally between $45 - $50 for the set. So you're really only spending $20 more for the wifi temperature controller. You will need to buy two additional probes if you want to use all four ports on the controller. You typically can buy replacement probes from Ace Hardware. Watch for coupons for Ace or buy a couple probes next Thanksgiving with the half off coupons. 

Just one quick point of clarification, the FBT is not a controller, it's a monitor.  The FB400 & 500, have the fan so you can control the temp, the FBT does not.  

The FBT comes with the multi purpose probes for pit or meat.  So you can monitor grate and dome temp, plus the meat, or however you want to do it.  The controllers come with the higher temp probes for meat or pit, but honestly you shouldn't be using a controller over about 350F anyway, so I kind of like these multi purpose ones better.

My bad with the word, "controller". I should have used the word, "monitor". 

Question @stlcharcoal

I know it's battery operated which is nice in some aspects but is there a way to plug it in and use? 

HeavyG

WeberWho said:

stlcharcoal said:

WeberWho said:

+1 on the Flame Boss. Those two probes that come with the controller are normally between $45 - $50 for the set. So you're really only spending $20 more for the wifi temperature controller. You will need to buy two additional probes if you want to use all four ports on the controller. You typically can buy replacement probes from Ace Hardware. Watch for coupons for Ace or buy a couple probes next Thanksgiving with the half off coupons. 

Just one quick point of clarification, the FBT is not a controller, it's a monitor.  The FB400 & 500, have the fan so you can control the temp, the FBT does not.  

The FBT comes with the multi purpose probes for pit or meat.  So you can monitor grate and dome temp, plus the meat, or however you want to do it.  The controllers come with the higher temp probes for meat or pit, but honestly you shouldn't be using a controller over about 350F anyway, so I kind of like these multi purpose ones better.

My bad with the word, "controller". I should have used the word, "monitor". 

Question @stlcharcoal

I know it's battery operated which is nice in some aspects but is there a way to plug it in and use? 

I assume the battery is charged via a USB cable - you could just keep it plugged into the USB adapter/AC power cord.

If you just wanted to make sure it has more battery life than the internal battery itself might have you could just plug it into one of those USB battery power packs and not have to mess with an AC cord.

WeberWho

HeavyG said:

WeberWho said:

stlcharcoal said:

WeberWho said:

+1 on the Flame Boss. Those two probes that come with the controller are normally between $45 - $50 for the set. So you're really only spending $20 more for the wifi temperature controller. You will need to buy two additional probes if you want to use all four ports on the controller. You typically can buy replacement probes from Ace Hardware. Watch for coupons for Ace or buy a couple probes next Thanksgiving with the half off coupons. 

Just one quick point of clarification, the FBT is not a controller, it's a monitor.  The FB400 & 500, have the fan so you can control the temp, the FBT does not.  

The FBT comes with the multi purpose probes for pit or meat.  So you can monitor grate and dome temp, plus the meat, or however you want to do it.  The controllers come with the higher temp probes for meat or pit, but honestly you shouldn't be using a controller over about 350F anyway, so I kind of like these multi purpose ones better.

My bad with the word, "controller". I should have used the word, "monitor". 

Question @stlcharcoal

I know it's battery operated which is nice in some aspects but is there a way to plug it in and use? 

I assume the battery is charged via a USB cable - you could just keep it plugged into the USB adapter/AC power cord.

If you just wanted to make sure it has more battery life than the internal battery itself might have you could just plug it into one of those USB battery power packs and not have to mess with an AC cord.

That's a good point @HeavyG

I know the Fireboard 2 is battery operated but it has the option for a charger. It's also twice the price but it seems to be a really nice monitor with the option of a fan to become a controller. 

stlcharcoal

HeavyG said:

WeberWho said:

stlcharcoal said:

WeberWho said:

+1 on the Flame Boss. Those two probes that come with the controller are normally between $45 - $50 for the set. So you're really only spending $20 more for the wifi temperature controller. You will need to buy two additional probes if you want to use all four ports on the controller. You typically can buy replacement probes from Ace Hardware. Watch for coupons for Ace or buy a couple probes next Thanksgiving with the half off coupons. 

Just one quick point of clarification, the FBT is not a controller, it's a monitor.  The FB400 & 500, have the fan so you can control the temp, the FBT does not.  

The FBT comes with the multi purpose probes for pit or meat.  So you can monitor grate and dome temp, plus the meat, or however you want to do it.  The controllers come with the higher temp probes for meat or pit, but honestly you shouldn't be using a controller over about 350F anyway, so I kind of like these multi purpose ones better.

My bad with the word, "controller". I should have used the word, "monitor". 

Question @stlcharcoal

I know it's battery operated which is nice in some aspects but is there a way to plug it in and use? 

I assume the battery is charged via a USB cable - you could just keep it plugged into the USB adapter/AC power cord.

If you just wanted to make sure it has more battery life than the internal battery itself might have you could just plug it into one of those USB battery power packs and not have to mess with an AC cord.

Yep, it charges via a USB-micro.....so you can just plug it in with one of those 

4TheGrillOfIt

I’d suggest the ThermoWorks Smoke.  Has a remote monitoring unit.  I use it 10 to 1 over the Meater or the FB.

AprèsSki

I have a Thermoworks Smoke and a Signals, the Smoke will not transmit from our patio to the far side of the house though brick over masonry.

I much prefer the Signals which can also be used as a controller when you add their Billows. 

(all of these are on sale today BTW)

Botch

4TheGrillOfIt said:

I’d suggest the ThermoWorks Smoke.  Has a remote monitoring unit.  I use it 10 to 1 over the Meater or the FB.

I've owned 2 or 3 wifi controllers/monitors over the years, haven't gotten a one to work (disclaimer: I'm a tech idiot who can't even post a video here).  
My Smoke, otoh, has worked perfectly from the get-go.  On the rare occasion where both are required, I use my Smoke to monitor temps and my SmoBot* to control temps/monitor the protein.  Twice as much to set up, but I rarely need both.
 
*I was having a brain fart trying to remember the name "SmoBot", so I typed "BGE temp controller" into teh googlez.  SmoBot didn't show up, AT ALL, in the first two pages!  This bothers me, a lot, and I may be looking into this more tomorrow, along with experimenting with duck-duck-go and other things.  This smells.  

Teefus

lousubcap said:

I recently bought a single Meater thermo.  Insert in the protein and it reads the obvious internal temp and the cooking chamber temp as well.  Phone app works well for remote monitoring. 
There are many other options and way smarter cooks here who hopefully will be along.  But it works for me.  FWIW-

I really like the simplicity with this system. Teefus like simple. Any regrets?

Teefus

I'm finally getting around to making a purchase. Any new input? @lousubcap - Any issues with battery life on the Meater? It's been suggested that a long cook will drain it. I'm thinking about the Meater Plus. https://store-us.meater.com/products/meater-plus

lousubcap

All still good here.  I've used it on long cooks and have no issues with the battery life however, if going long I won't implement it until well into the cook.  FWIW-

SamIAm2

Had a ThermoWorks Smoke and used it quite a bit until it just died. New batteries for unit and remote and it just would not connect, even with everything sitting on my egg table.

Like @lousubcap I went with Meater for the replacement. Only issue I have is placement of the phone in my 1968 Concrete Block house is critical. Also, it goes back into the holder/charger after cleaning and the magnetic base keeps it on my oven for easy access after seasoning the protein.

danhoo

When I'm grilling or smoking I'd rather not involve my phone and prefer a dedicated remote. 

I have both a thermoworks smoke ( 2 probe ) and a smoke X4 ( 4 probe )

the X4 has much longer range and will also run their billows fan, but TBH, I don't use the billows fan very often. I'll set it up for an overnight cook for insurance.