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BBQ Guru Control advice!?!?

A31unit
A31unit Posts: 208
edited September 2015 in EggHead Forum
I am beginning my research into purchasing a controller for my LBGE.  Should I buy a:
1). igrill2 and a partyq? Cost $255. It is 2 units I have to worry about, and is missing some really beneficial modes the others I am considering have but will give me monitoring of my food and grate temp on my phone in the house.

2). DigiQ Dx2.  Cost $282.  Seems like the sweet spot but does not have the wifi capability which I feel like I should have but may not really need.

3). CyberQ wifi. Cost $392.  It is $100 more for wifi and an extra 2 food probes.

I have been researching and reading the Naked Wiz reviews.  The DigiQ Dx2 seems like the flagship.  The open lid mode and ramp mode seem like a real deal breaker luring me to step up to this level.
Here is the real question:
If the DigiQ Dx2 has all these modes (especially the ramp mode) why would it ever be necessary to spend the extra money and step up to the CyberQ Wifi???  I mean as long as the DigiQ is programmed correctly you can walk away from your cook with confidence. Right?
In other words why would one need to monitor the cook from their phone?

Step out of the way Butch
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Comments

  • SoCalTim
    SoCalTim Posts: 2,158
    I just bought the partyq and let me tell you - it it awesome. The key selling point for me is that it is battery operated, no cords needed. If your out camping or tailgating and your doing a low & slow - no problem, you don't have to worry about plugging in

    For me, i didn't need a unit with the wifi .. yeah that's the lastest and greatest, but other than bragging rights, not sure if there's a real need for it, thou I could be wrong.


    I've slow smoked and eaten so much pork, I'm legally recognized as being part swine - Chatsworth Ca.
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  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    Do take a look at the Flame Boss 200 (100 if money is an issue).  I have a DigiQ Dx2 and a FB200 ... my son has the FB100.  Check with some of the Midwest dealers who are on the forum for cost. 

    Wifi is like power windows on a vehicle ... seems dumb until you use them for awhile.

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

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  • A31unit
    A31unit Posts: 208
    I did check out the flame boss 200. It seems like the fan unit is very susceptible to windy conditions. Naked Wiz reviewed it and had to fashion some sort of aluminum foil wind shield onto it. If I am paying this sort of money that would be unacceptable.
    i am leaning toward the DX2
    Step out of the way Butch
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  • A31unit
    A31unit Posts: 208
    edited September 2015
    Jeepster47 said:
    Do take a look at the Flame Boss 200 (100 if money is an issue).  I have a DigiQ Dx2 and a FB200 ... my son has the FB100.  Check with some of the Midwest dealers who are on the forum for cost. 

    Wifi is like power windows on a vehicle ... seems dumb until you use them for awhile.
    Do you like the flame boss 200 or your dx2 better?  Have you encountered any of the wind related problems from lack of a damper on the flame boss ?  Thanks
    Step out of the way Butch
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    A31unit said:
    I did check out the flame boss 200. It seems like the fan unit is very susceptible to windy conditions. Naked Wiz reviewed it and had to fashion some sort of aluminum foil wind shield onto it. If I am paying this sort of money that would be unacceptable.
    i am leaning toward the DX2
    Unaware of this.  Thanks
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • Monty77
    Monty77 Posts: 667
    Digi Q Dx2 has not let me down, great for overnight babysitting.  I thought I would want the wifi as well, but it honestly has never really been an issue.
    Large BGE 2011, XL BGE 2015, Mini Max 2015, and member of the "North of the Border Smokin Squad" Canadian Outdoor Chef from London, Ontario, Canada

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/monty77/
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    The Digi is a no frills ATC.  And out of your options, seems like the best bet. 
    I shut both the OLD and RM off on mine, no longer use the food probe, and Thermapen when I think things are getting close. 

    Personally, could care less to watch my cook or SV from a phone.  But many get their rocks off new phone apps and pretty graphs. 
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • A31unit
    A31unit Posts: 208
    edited September 2015
    Lol @Focker so if that is the case and you could do it all over again I guess the partyq would be all you would need!
    thanks
    Step out of the way Butch
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  • dstearn
    dstearn Posts: 1,705
    As long as you do not mind having to check the DigiQ directly for grate and meat temp you should be fine with the DigiQ. I upgraded to the CyberQ so the I could monitor and control my cook without having to check the unit especially when it is 20 degrees outside. 
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  • coooltroy
    coooltroy Posts: 207
    Another vote for Flameboss200.... the connectivity has been more reliable and easy to change than the Stoker in my experience.  
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  • Mosca
    Mosca Posts: 456
    edited September 2015
    I've set the DigiQ and gone to bed, gone shopping, taken a nap, watched the game, whatever. That son of a gun is rock solid +/- 5. I like open lid mode, I don't care about ramp mode. 

    There might be other choices that work as well, but this one works as advertised.
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  • smbishop
    smbishop Posts: 3,061
    I have the CyberQ wifi and love the ability to monitor and adjust temps from inside the house, or anywhere for that matter.   I also enjoy the graphs that 3rd party software provide.  I also have the partyq and it is a great device, quick to set up and provides worry free temp. control.
    Southlake, TX and Cowhouse Creek - King, TX.  2 Large, 1 Small and a lot of Eggcessories.
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  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    The good news is that all of your choices are good ones. The wind issue with flame boss seems very minor to me. Cooking in high winds always requires some diligence, regardless of the controller or no controller. Questions to ask yourself are1: what kind of cooks am I going to use it for? 2: how often will o use it? 3: do I already own a two probe grill monitor? 4: do I now or will I in the future want some of the bells and whistles? 
     Again, all the controllers you mentioned are great pieces. Some people use theirs all the time, others like me rarely use them, but wouldn't be without one. Pick one and start cooking. 
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  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
    I like the simplicty of the PartyQ. Couple that with a Maverick, and that's all that most people really need.  I just turn my PartyQ off when I need to open the lid. I just turn it back on when things stabilize again.  I don't need graphs. 
    Dave - Austin, TX
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  • A31unit
    A31unit Posts: 208
    Thanks for all the great responses.  Right now all I have is a thermapen so I'm starting off with a clean slate (no controller/constant monitoring).
    Seems like each unit has its high points.
    i wanna buy enough but I don't wanna get something crammed packed full of features I will
    never use.
    Step out of the way Butch
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  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    A31unit said:
    Do you like the flame boss 200 or your dx2 better?  Have you encountered any of the wind related problems from lack of a damper on the flame boss ?  Thanks
    I haven't used my dx2 since I bought the FB200 ... the dx2 is now relegated to backup status.

    I haven't had any wind issues, but my cooking location provides some protection from winds.  I talked with Michael about the lack of a dampener when I first bought the unit.  He was emphatic that it didn't need one, but agreed that adding one (as NakedWhiz shows in their review) will cause no harm.  I went through an assortment of growing pains with my dx2 unit, so developed a process that tightly seals the egg during ATC usage.  You're going to have to make a rain shield anyway, so that could also be used to protect the unit from wind gusts ... see the one I made here from aluminum flashing material:

    eggheadforum.com/discussion/1183078/flame-boss-200-does-babybacks/p1

    Also, you can see how the adapter plate has been tightened up to further reduce air leakage here:

    eggheadforum.com/discussion/1183150/flame-boss-200-does-pulled-beef/p1

    As @pgprescptt mentioned above, all of the units work well.  I would add that they all have their own idiosyncrasies that you have to work through before you'll be totally happy.  Plus, different eggs react slightly differently to the controllers.

    PS ... the dx2 has a firmware feature that "jumps" the displayed pit temp to the set pit temp when it gets within 5 degrees.  That must have been added to provide a "let me worry about the little things and you worry about the big things" approach. 

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

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  • Mosca
    Mosca Posts: 456
    Jeepster47 said:

    PS ... the dx2 has a firmware feature that "jumps" the displayed pit temp to the set pit temp when it gets within 5 degrees.  That must have been added to provide a "let me worry about the little things and you worry about the big things" approach. 
    Don't underestimate the value of this feature! Some of us <cough-cough> can get a little too overwrought with temperature variations of a couple degrees. A quick glance at a display that shows what it was set to negates foolish worrying and fiddling.
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  • A31unit
    A31unit Posts: 208
    edited September 2015
    @Jeepster47 The flame boss 200 seems like a pretty good deal considering it has the wifi and all for $350. The cyberq is almost $50 more and from what I am reading the software seems more user friendly on the flame boss
    any idea where to get the best deal on the 200?
    Step out of the way Butch
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  • six_egg
    six_egg Posts: 1,112
    I have Digi Q II love it. I had a problem with mine one time. I had to send it back for repair. They fixed it and sent it back. I did pay shipping is all. Great customer support IMO. I never monitor my cooks if using the Q. I know when my cook should be done and just check it around that time. Also they do sell a battery option for the Digi Q now. If power is a problem. 

    XLBGE, LBGE 

    Fernandina Beach, FL

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  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    PM sent ...

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

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  • BamaFanInArky
    BamaFanInArky Posts: 30
    I have the Rocks BBQ Stoker and I love it.  
    It's a great option if you have multiple eggs, because you only need to purchase a $15 adaptor plate to use it on another size egg.  

    I use it for my minimax and large and have zero issues
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  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,678
    coooltroy said:
    Another vote for Flameboss200.... the connectivity has been more reliable and easy to change than the Stoker in my experience.  
    My previous generation Stoker also has poor WiFi performance.
    It is also not the most intuitive to setup, you get used to it in time. Not nearly as easy to setup as my Guru Wireless Procom that met a tragic end.
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