Oregon Scientific AW131 Therm

Hey everyone. Before my DigiQ, I had bought an Oregon Scientific AW131 Thermometer. I bought it some time last year. It worked twice and then stopped. I eventually got the two units to communicate with each other but the temp in my kitchen was reading 170F! I called Oregon Scientific this morning and was told that I needed a new probe. I asked her how the probe could be out after only using it twice. She asked me what I was using it in, to which I replied a smoker. AH HA, she said! These are not suppose to be used in smokers.

WHAT??? Are you freakin kidding me? I asked her where people use them and she said for short grilling items such as steaks. Um, my steaks cook for about 3.5 minutes. Why on earth would anyone use a wireless thermometer for grilling? She told me that the smoke penetrates the probe wire and ruins the connection. I told her that no where in the owner's manual or the web site does it tell you NOT to use this in a smoker. She apologized and suggested that I buy 4-5 probes at a time for $12.95 each + $9.95 shipping.

In hindsight, I guess wrapping the probe in tin foil might have helped? Anybody else heard such a thing with this particular unit? Absolutely freakin crazy to make a wireless thermometer that is not suppose to be used in a smoker.