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    Trying to decide.... Smobot, FB 200 or FB 300

    Posts: 1,153
    in EggHead Forum
    (Admission... I've been cooking on my Eggs for >15 years and have pretty much poo-poo'd the thought of "automated" temp control.  With age comes laziness and hopefully wisdom!)

    The holiday cooks this year, between Prime Rib and Smoking Turkeys, have me in a dilemma.  Using the Smoke to track temps (and probably setting my temps for high and low on the grill too close) had me getting up and down like a tennis ball particularly during the first part of the prolonged cook.  I'm thinking I want to automate this process a bit more.

    My longer cooks consist of one meat for the Spousal Unit and I so I'm thinking a single grid probe and a single meat prob should be sufficient.

    Or should I go back to old school and just watch the dome temp and forget about it??
    Kirkland, TN
    2 LBGE, 1 MM


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    • Posts: 299
      I’m in the same boat as you, I just noticed your post after I posted the exact same thing.  Sorry
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    • Posts: 1,153
      Captainjimpark said:
      I’m in the same boat as you, I just noticed your post after I posted the exact same thing.  Sorry
      Saw that... maybe we'll get some consensus! :)
      Kirkland, TN
      2 LBGE, 1 MM


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    • Posts: 10,380
      I have a Smobot and a couple blower type controllers (none of which are FB's tho) and they all work well.

      I'm sure you'd be pleased with any of them. I don't know that either type/approach is clearly better than the other.

      If you are a Smokeware cap user then you obviously wouldn't be able to use that when using the Smobot.



      “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




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    • Posts: 203
      I contemplated buying a controller for years.  I bought the Smobot and a battery pack.  I couldn't be happier!  The Smobot is the "purest" form of controlling temp in my opinion.  No need for fans/ blowers or adapters that may fail.  My cooks are very consistent. my pit temps stay within 5 degrees of my target.  My only complaint I have is the lack of alarms, which I understand is being addressed.  Great customer service as well
      Large BGE, Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, 36" Blackstone Griddle Blackstone Tailgater and Roccbox owner/operator from Los Angeles
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    • Posts: 138
      I have a Smokeware cap, so the Smobot works really well for me. I pull off the SW, pop on the Smobot...and when I'm done, I switch them back. 

      I think it's all personal preference. I doubt either will be a significant difference in performance with either unit.
      Located Middle GA

      Current: XL w/ Woo & 17" Half Moon Plates, SMOBOT

      RIP: Weber 22" Kettle, Slow 'n Sear, Akorn Jr., Pit Barrel Cooker
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    • Posts: 290
      I'm no expert, but I ultimately chose the Smobot because it seemed simpler and required less power so a smaller battery can run it longer.  Been very pleased so far, but as has been stated above, no one seems disappointed with the FlameBoss either.  I have liked having 2 food probes, and they come standard with the Smobot but cost extra on the FB300.
      Large BGE
      Huntsville, AL
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    • Posts: 299
      I just tried ordering a smotbot but they are out of stock
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    • Posts: 17
      I have a Smobot and couldn't be happier. Brain-dead easy setup, simple in operation, no fans and works great.
      North Augusta, SC
      LBGE, offset smoker
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    • Posts: 19,636
      Rick, I'm like you, only much younger.  Never had a controller but on occasion (brisket) it would be convenient.  Smobot on my birthday wish list next month.  That's my expert opinion  ;)
      Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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    • Posts: 1,153
      Thanks to all for taking time to reply!  If @bgebrent says Smobot... maybe I should put it on my list as well!! :) 

      Thanks again!
      Kirkland, TN
      2 LBGE, 1 MM


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    • Posts: 19,636
      The FB stuff is great too Rick.  Really boils down to personal preference.  I am no expert!  I just like the simplicity of the smobot and all the positive feedback from this forum.
      Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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    • Posts: 957
      I have no experience of the Smobot but I sure do love my FB 200.
      Cincinnati, Ohio. Large BGE since 2011. Still learning.
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    • Posts: 245
      When Rick gets his, I'll just got out to his place and drink whatever beer he's got on tap and see how it works for him.  Of course it'll take several trips - unless he runs out of beer.
      Near Music City in the Boro
      LBGE, Joe,Jr
      Free is better than cheap
      If it's worth telling, it's worth exaggerating


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    • Posts: 1,047
      Someone say free beer?
      The problem with a problem is that you don't know it's a problem until it's a problem, and that is a big problem.
      Holding the company together with three spreadsheets and two cans connected by a long piece of string.
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    • Posts: 19,636
      Possumtrot said:
      When Rick gets his, I'll just got out to his place and drink whatever beer he's got on tap and see how it works for him.  Of course it'll take several trips - unless he runs out of beer.
      I've only known him to run out of beer once...  Lesson learned  =)
      Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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    • Posts: 10,380
      distanceman said:
      I have a Smokeware cap, so the Smobot works really well for me. I pull off the SW, pop on the Smobot...and when I'm done, I switch them back. 

      I think it's all personal preference. I doubt either will be a significant difference in performance with either unit.
      What I meant was that with the Smobot one couldn't use their Smokeware cap at the same time to protect from rain.

      I made a few cuts in a cheap roof vent to fit over/under my Smobot mainly for use in freezing rain but I suspect that the heat from the grill probably spreads enough heat throughout the damper that the chances of the damper arms freezing up are close to nil.



      “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




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    • Posts: 15,172
      Why? Thought you had @Stash?
      Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

      Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
      Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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    • Posts: 4,716
      If you're going FB, get the 300.  Even if you don't need the multiple probe capability, the 300 has a lot of other improvements under the hood.  There were some weak spots on the board fixed, it can connect directly with an Android or Apple device for quicker setup, and it can broadcast directly to that device should you lose your internet connection.  It's not that much more, so just get the 300.
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    • Posts: 138
      @HeavyG Sorry, yeah I knew what ya meant--I was just saying I like having two vents I can interchange! 
      Located Middle GA

      Current: XL w/ Woo & 17" Half Moon Plates, SMOBOT

      RIP: Weber 22" Kettle, Slow 'n Sear, Akorn Jr., Pit Barrel Cooker
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    • Posts: 15,172
      northGAcock said:
      Why? Thought you had @Stash?
      Intended to say don’t you have @Possumtrot to keep an eye on it for you? Hope you guys had a great Christmas!
      Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

      Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
      Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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    • Posts: 1,153
      edited December 2017
      northGAcock said:
      Why? Thought you had @Stash?

      Occasionally, I have been know to have an empty tap or two as I am in transition.... This is a rare occurrence!! :)

      Kirkland, TN
      2 LBGE, 1 MM


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    • Posts: 387
      I was looking to upgrade my CyberQ(II?) WiFi (it's one of the "old and inferior" models I guess as its stuck at firmware 1.7 and won't work with their new cloud back end - too bad theres no app to act as a bridge for that).  While it still works (aside from the slider on the fan being frozen in place) I'm not keen on the whole "check the browser tab to see if an alarm is going off" bit.  It looks like The new CyberQ Cloud would remedy that via SMS/email.  It also looks like you can buy just the unit you need to buy a kit (with fan, and adapter).

      The Smobot looks interesting as being able to run things from a USB battery pack would simplify things in inclement weather.  However it looks like the product itself their apps aren't here right now.

      Maybe sometime before the Smobot gets back in stock some nice YouTuber will make a video doing a compare/contrast of the two.
      Near San Francisco in California
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    • Posts: 584
      I just got the FB300 and love it
      I XL  and 1 Weber Kettle  And 1 Weber Q220       Outside Alvin, TX-- South of Houston
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    • Posts: 17
      I just got a FB300 for Christmas. Used it Christmas Day for an 8 pound rib roast and couldn’t be happier. I was shopping it against the CyberQ and decided on the FB300 primarily due to the fact that they already had both IOS and Android apps. 

      Would have considered the Smokebot but was not aware of it at the time. Would probably have still gone with the FB300 due to already having an app and the ability to easily remove the fan for when I don’t want to use a controller, I.e. pizza and high heat grills. 
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