Fathers' day and Murphy's law

Spudman

Well, my egg was a fathers day present and I got it a week early. I've already made steaks, a small brisket, a boston butt and a picnic. I decided our fathers day dinner would be another brisket, only this time I got the whole one weighing about 14 pounds. I learned from my overnight cook with the Boston butt that I needed some additional planning, so I vacuumed out the egg and built the charcoal up with big pieces on the bottom going to small toward the top using only fresh charcoal.

Here is what went wrong; I knocked my polder dual sensor thermometer off the egg's table and it died. This was about thirty minutes into the cook! After trying to change batteries and pulling out my remaining hair I remembered a Brookstone probe thermometer I bought on clearance to give as a gift. I'm using it to finish the cook.

I'm also going to order the maverick thermometer as soon as I decide between the et-73 and the et-7.

Grandpas Grub

I've got em both, GET the 73, about $39.95 online.
Initally I got a avery good deal on the 7 - A very good deal is no deal at all if the item isn't what you need.

The 73 has alarms and the 7 doesn't. No alarm keeps you awake overnight just like having no alarm at all. Still have to wake up and look at the received, if the signal travels to your bed, mine didn't. I had to keep getting up to look at the Maverick 7.

Don't know why but batteries in the 7 don't last very long (my 7 anyway). Range is ok to poor on the 7, mine. Other than that it is fine. Both probes are food probes, I just put one of mine at food level for pit temp. My 7 receiver lost the link several times without moving the receiver.

On my 73 the inital batteries lasted about 3 months with it always on 24/7. Good range, further than the 7. The alarms are nice to have especailly if you are doing an overnight. Meat & pit probe, not sure if that makes a whole lot of difference from the 7.

Everything I didn't like on the 7 was good on the 73. Some say the 73 is hard to set or hard to remember how to set. It is pretty simple if you read the instructions first. If not, it is hard to figure out.

GG

Knauf

Hey Grandpa does your 73 receiver display food and smoker temp all the time? I'm using my father's day gift tonight and the food and smoker temps are just 3 dashes flashing and I'm not sure if I've set the darn thing up correctly. The tranmitter is displaying temps but not the receiver.

Grandpas Grub

Yes.

If you are getting '--' then you probably do not have connection with the tx & rx.

Open the back of the tx. you will see a round black rubber button. Probably will need a pen/pencil/stick to depress, but not yet.

Turn off the rx and wait 30 seconds or so (15 might work). Turn on the rx and then press the tx button on the transmitter.

You should then see the temps on the rx.

I don't know why but if the connection is lost the rx has to be turned off then back on, then the tx button has to be pressed. If that doesn't work then turn of both rx & tx. turn on the rx. then turn on the the tx and the connection should be made.

Pretty simple but a pain.

Let me know if that works.


GG

Spudman

Thanks Grandas Grub,

I actually found the 7 for cheaper than the 73, but I went with your recommendation and that of some others and ordered the 73.