The "Mav"

I could not agree with you more on the length of the smoker wire. Someone once said that Maverick has probes available that six feet long. But only at Maverick and of course at an extra cost!

John

There was an order form in the box that showed the optional longer wires. I'll see how it goes but I may consider buying a longer one...

jeff

These thermometer's you guys speak of. Do you leave them in the entire time your smoking the food? I'm doing my first big smoke this weekend, (a pork butt for starters) and tonight i'm going to pick up a thermo. Any suggestions as to which brand?


Thanks in advance guys,
Geneo

Geneo ~ Yes, you'll want to leave the probe in for the duration of the smoke. You'll want to open the door to the smoker as little as possible to avoid prolonging your cooking time. I just run the wire up through the vent hole. I've used a couple different thermometers. I had one made by Taylor which worked well, also one by Pyrex. I'll be trying out the Maverick soon. It has some features that most others don't have. I ordered it online from "The Gadget Source.com".

Overstock.com used to have the dual probe remote model from Maverick for a really nice price. In any case, I have had a lot of success with it, although I have yet to use it enough to comment on it's durability. My last pork butt cooked for 16 hours and I never opened the door until we got to 195 and we were done.

Yes, the ET-7 dual probe remote is still there for $38.95 and free shipping. The dual probe is kind of cool. You can use it for two different pieces of meat, or two each in different parts of the same piece. I have also seen some mention that they stick one all the way through a potato (tip sticking out other side) to monitor the temperature of the smoker.

I actually think that the dual probe aspect is more beneficial than the remote aspect. The range is not all that far and it is pretty easy to monitor without it. When it comes to smoking, being off by 15 minutes or even a half hour is likely not the biggest deal in the world (unless you have wrapped in foil, in which case the temp can move a little quicker).

Why use the smoker probe at all? If I didn't use it as a secondary meat probe (when cooking several pieces at once) it would still be brand new.

The purpose of the smoker probe is to wake up our log-burner counterparts who have to stoke the fire all night long. I just use the meat probe and get a good night's sleep.

I guess I'll probably use the smoker probe just in case I throw a breaker or something like that. Not that I've had problems with that. I'd rather catch it if it occurs than end up with bad meat. It's nice to have the option to monitor 2 pieces of meat that's for sure.

�The purpose of the smoker probe is to wake up our log-burner counterparts who have to stoke the fire all night long.�

ALWAYS be very nice to them.

In case of no electricity, we are going to appreciate our Neanderthal neighbors and their appreciation of the old ways and traditions of thousands of generations. Once awhile you should wake up during one of their all night cooks. Take them a nice cup of strong coffee and go back to bed.


SMOKECRAZY Where did you see the longer probe cable?

In the box that it was shipped in were a few pieces of paper laying loose. One was a Gadget Source catalog and the other was an order form and it had 2 or 3 different things to buy. 2 of the items were optional wires. I believe one was a 6ft smoker wire. I just looked for the form and now I don't know where it went.

jeff

I ordered and am using on my first smoke the Maverick on Overstock.com.I think the ones on Gadget might be newer models.The write-ups say something about them being easier to use.

I also have and use the Maverick remote probe. The remote receiver has to be near a window in order to work, otherwise it can't receive the signal from the probes in the smoker. Once you find a spot, it is NICE to see the temps without running outside. I can monitor the smoker temps and the meat temps, I set my alarms and kick back and watch TV or make my sides.

Yes indeed,just like you all said, I watched the temperature "plateau" from inside the house.
My husband thought my butt was good (no pun intended)with the right amount of smoke.I am grateful that I read here to be careful not to use too much smoke. When I reheated I used a little prepared bbq sauce with lots of cider vinegar.It is amazing how good cider vinegar is on the pork.I am going to get a spritzer to use with apple juice. Your advice is all "right on " Forum members.Thanks.

Okay!

If: this is true to the letter.

"The remote receiver has to be near a window in order to work, otherwise it can't receive the signal from the probes in the smoker"

Than you can be 100' from the smoker but you need a direct line of sight?

I was going to pay the extra $25.00 over other models available.

This way I did not always need to open the Lanai window and look around the corner to see the temp.

Would you owners be able to experiment for us putting the probe in say your electric oven? Then walking about the house and see if it works?

If line of sight is true than they have chosen to not add that little tid bit to the advertisement now haven't they?

Mango,

It may be true for Baltimore Bayside but it is not true for me. I can plug in my ET-73 and get reception through 3/4s of the house. But if I take the receiver in my bedroom and close the door (no snide comments!), I lose the signal. The bedroom is at the other end of the house from the porch where the FEC is.

It really depends on how many walls and other structures the signal must travel through to get to the receiver. Plus it helps to have new batteries!

BTW, I just called and ordered the 6' smoker lead for mine today. Did not think to ask the price though.

I haven't had a single problem with reception on my ET-73 either. I bought it from thegadgetsource.com, so maybe it's one of the newer models I've read about with greater range. Dunno.

I have an Oregon that says it has 100' range. I can walk through the whole house and the basement without losing signal.

I have 4 pyrex's that refuse to ever say the same thing nor are they constant. I end up testing them each time and putting tape with the differances for everycook.
Bought a dual maverick, it doesn't match any of them or it's self, won't send a signal into the house.
I believe the Mavericks problems are the leads.

My house has 2X6 walls, maybe that's it. I haven't tried walking through the house to check the signal, however it's still sitting out of the box, maybe I'll experiment with it after work.

I don't know, so far for me I have to have a "Line of Site" in order for it to work.

Hey gang... Check out this thread at the Virtual Weber Bullet Forum... ( I hope there are no rules against posting links to other forums... If so, feel free to delete the link...)

http://tvwbb.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/1780069052/m/7290051153

It seems that some mavs have been shipped with an internal wire antenna and some do not have the antenna. Folks who have opened up theirs and added a wire antenna are experiencing noticable improvements in range.

I haven't opened mine up yet, and I am not suggesting that you open yours. That decision is up to you. I will be working on mine over the weekend since its pretty useless the way it is. I can't even go inside the house without losing signal.