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CyberQ or Flame Boss??

MelSharples
MelSharples Posts: 260
in EggHead Forum
About to pull an expensive trigger on an accessory I will not use very often, crazy right?? Anyway, anybody out there have eggsperience with the above mentioned temp controllers? I am leaning towards a wifi device only because if I am going to waste money on something I want to get all the bells and whistles possible. Cyber Q comes with 2 additional meat probes, FB is a little cheaper. First world problem for sure...
LBGE 2015 - Atlanta
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Comments

  • GuitarEC
    GuitarEC Posts: 122
    I've used the CyberQ Wifi and have had good results with my cooks.  Also you can configure it to send email notifications at set events (meat temp, etc.).
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    I was set on buying a Stoker, because of the available options to expand it to multiple probes and fans, for controlling multiple cookers. I kept holding back because of different issues - it seemed more difficult to set up, support from Rock's seemed to be all over the place in terms of reliability, they were backordered, etc.

    The flame boss came around and someone here recommended that I take a look at it, and it fit the bill for me. I figured that realistically I would probably never be cooking on multiple pits that needed to all be remotely controlled simultaneously. If you compete, then the Stoker may be what you want.  

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • HofstraJet
    HofstraJet Posts: 1,173
    I have the exact same dilemma, Mel. Just bought both from Amazon to try. The loser gets to Kiss My Grits and gets returned to Amazon. 
    Two Large Eggs, 6 gal Cajun Fryer, and a MiniMax in Charlotte, NC - My New Table
    Twitter: @ Bags
    Blog: TheJetsFan.com
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  • MelSharples
    MelSharples Posts: 260
    HofstraJet said:
    I have the exact same dilemma, Mel. Just bought both from Amazon to try. The loser gets to Kiss My Grits and gets returned to Amazon. 

    Let me know the verdict, really have no clue which way to go on this one. Like @caliking I have no intention of using it for anything other than single low and slow cooks.
    LBGE 2015 - Atlanta
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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,759
    @MelSharples Send you a PM.  Give me a call, lot easier to explain all the pros/cons on the phone....... 
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  • djmsalem
    djmsalem Posts: 46
    edited June 2015
    I've liked the Cyber Q for the last year, even though it only has three meat probes. I had a Stoker for a year before that and liked it, but the Wifi was flaky and then it just started continually rebooting and the display became unreadable. I'm sure it was a bad board or something fixable, but after getting the Guru I haven't bothered to send it back for repair.

    I think also that the Guru fan does better in the rain. I was always worried with the stoker that the fan would get wet, but the staff at BBQ Guru told me that as long as I kept the fan side down weather wouldn't be a problem, and there hasn't been.
    Large BGE, Adjustable Rig, CyberQ, Ash Kicker, SmokeWare SS Chimney Top
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  • scooter209
    scooter209 Posts: 14

    I'm in the same situation as melsharples ,trying to decide between the Flame Boss and Cyber Q.  Are there any big differences between the 2 units? 

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  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 21,681
    edited December 2015
    scooter209 said:

    I'm in the same situation as melsharples ,trying to decide between the Flame Boss and Cyber Q.  Are there any big differences between the 2 units? 

    They both offer similiar functionality.  The wifi on the Flame Boss 200 is much easier to setup than the CyberQ.  It requires no port forwarding or other networking setups.  You link it to your network and then you control it via their website.  It is very simple.

    The customer support from Flame Boss is tremendous.  I also like the probes and cables better from the FB.

    I would rather light a candle than curse your darkness.

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  • volfan1
    volfan1 Posts: 167
    I have the original Flame Boss, and it works like a champ. I do wish I had waited & gotten the 200, but I am happy with the results I've gotten from the Flame Boss.
    XL & Mini-max & knock off medium. Western North Carolina. Formerly Franklin, TN. Formerly in Palm Harbor, FL. 
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  • RedSkip
    RedSkip Posts: 1,400
    FB100 here, works great.  Bought it before the 200 was a available, I'd upgrade if I could return the FB100 and pay the difference.  I don't think that's an option.  The wifi would be sweet but I don't find it a necessity.
    Large BGE - McDonald, PA
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  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 21,681
    edited December 2015
    @RedSkip  They do sell just the head units for the 200.  Not ideal, but saves you about a hundo over buying a whole new package.

    I would rather light a candle than curse your darkness.

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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    I've been pretty happy with the fb200. I have to go to work on the weekend occasionally and I can keep an eye on my my cooks while I'm away. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • smbishop
    smbishop Posts: 3,061
    I have no experience with the Flame Boss.  I have had the CyberQ for several years and love it.  I have left it out in the rain over night more than once and it has survived my mistake.  It is a great piece of equipment and has been very reliable for me.
    Southlake, TX and Cowhouse Creek - King, TX.  2 Large, 1 Small and a lot of Eggcessories.
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  • LKNEgg
    LKNEgg Posts: 339
    Check with @stlcharcoal .  He is the eggspert on this topic.  I went with the FB200 and loved it.  Simple setup and easy control.  No regrets!
    Large BGE - 2014
    FB 200, KAB, AR - 2015
    Lake Norman area of NC
    The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten!
    Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing!
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  • Blackwidow98
    Blackwidow98 Posts: 134
    I'll be getting the flameboss 200 when it comes time!  
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  • nathanenderle
    nathanenderle Posts: 43
    My FB200 is sitting at the dang post office! I will be the first one in line there tomorrow morning to get it. 
    Newbie with LG BGE, learning one slow cook at a time! 
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  • RedSkip
    RedSkip Posts: 1,400
    @Ozzie_Isaac I struggle to justify the purchase of just the unit itself for a few hundred.  I've reached out to FB to give my 100 back and pay the difference on the 200, but that isn't in their best interest - which I understand.  

    I trust the FB 100 during overnight cooks, so the upgrade to WiFi is hard to swallow.  If the 100 ever dies out I'll be upgrading for sure, my luck though there will be a 300 model soon after.
    Large BGE - McDonald, PA
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  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974
    @nathanenderle are you waiting for Christmas to unwrap it? Give us some updates when you fire it up!
    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974
    @RedSkip it's too bad they don't make them all with wifi inside and make wifi a paid firmware upgrade later. The wifi chips are darned cheap these days. 
    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    edited December 2015
    @blind99 ... @RedSkip ... maybe the 300 will be modular.  A non-wifi module (100 functionality) that is firmware up-gradable via a hard-wire port.  And, a wifi module that connects to the non-wifi module to add 200 functionality.  One could then start out with the non-wifi and add wifi capability later.

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

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  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 21,681
    RedSkip said:
    @Ozzie_Isaac I struggle to justify the purchase of just the unit itself for a few hundred.  I've reached out to FB to give my 100 back and pay the difference on the 200, but that isn't in their best interest - which I understand.  

    I trust the FB 100 during overnight cooks, so the upgrade to WiFi is hard to swallow.  If the 100 ever dies out I'll be upgrading for sure, my luck though there will be a 300 model soon after.
    I completely understand.  I got my FB100 a month before the FB200 came out,   However, I knew it was coming out, but had a large cook for a neighbors graduation and opted not to wait.

    I would rather light a candle than curse your darkness.

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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,759
    nathanenderle said:
    My FB200 is sitting at the dang post office! I will be the first one in line there tomorrow morning to get it. 
    Sorry about that......normally they just leave them at the door even with the insurance.  :(
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  • nathanenderle
    nathanenderle Posts: 43
    stlcharcoal said:
    nathanenderle said:
    My FB200 is sitting at the dang post office! I will be the first one in line there tomorrow morning to get it. 
    Sorry about that......normally they just leave them at the door even with the insurance.  :(
    It's not a problem at all! :) In this part of the country most people err on the conservative side. I'll get it today and hopefully will be cooking this weekend or next with it.

    blind99 said:
    @nathanenderle are you waiting for Christmas to unwrap it? Give us some updates when you fire it up!
    Nope hopefully will be cooking this weekend or next with :)
    Newbie with LG BGE, learning one slow cook at a time! 
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  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    @nathanenderle ... if you've got a cooking buddy, share the webpage and the cook number with them.  Then they can follow along.  I did that with my dealer ... he, his brother, and his nephew (eggheads) were all following along for the first cook.

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

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  • RedSkip
    RedSkip Posts: 1,400
    @blind99 Any chance of me modifying the unit and adding my own wifi chip?  Or is it the software that's the difficult part?  
    Large BGE - McDonald, PA
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  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974

    @nathanenderle Santa dropped mine off this week but I have to wait until Christmas!


    @redskip No idea.  Probably way easiest to just buy a new FB 200! 


    If you're interested in this sort of thing, on the hobbyist level, check out the ESP8266 and the Texas Instruments CC 3300.  I think I paid about $10 a piece for ESP8266 breakouts last summer.


    Heatermeter implements an on-board web server using a raspberry pi.  You can look at all the code on that project.

    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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  • RedSkip
    RedSkip Posts: 1,400
    @blind99 Thanks for info, I'll definitely look into it.  Worst case I destroy the 100 and have to buy a 200 anyways...lol.
    Large BGE - McDonald, PA
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  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    @RedSkip ... seriously, call Flameboss and ask the question.  If I remember correctly, Michael's brother is the designer. 

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

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  • RedSkip
    RedSkip Posts: 1,400
    @Jeepster47 I'm willing to play around and learn.  I'm not sure Michael would be willing to tell me and I respect that.  It's more of a research project, lots to read before doing anything with it. 
    Large BGE - McDonald, PA
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  • 4Runner
    4Runner Posts: 2,948
    I'd get the Stoker.  Well, that is what I did so I recommend getting the Stoker.  Type Ks from all my Thermoworks convert over too.  Great to share probes.   
    Joe - I'm a reformed gasser-holic aka 4Runner Columbia, SC Wonderful BGE Resource Site: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramicfaq.htm and http://www.nibblemethis.com/  and http://playingwithfireandsmoke.blogspot.com/2006/02/recipes.html
    What am I drinking now?   Woodford....neat
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