Thermometer and remote monitor system?

I use a Maverick ET-73 myself. Mainly because it has a smoker probe with the capability of setting a high and low temp limit to sound an alarm. Unfortunately, it does not get the stated reception distance on the remote unit for the most part. This is mainly due to what structures are inbetween the base and remote units. But it works for me.

I guess I should also say that this is for commercial use. I have a mobile BBQ business with a FEC100 in the trailer. This will be used a lot more than for personal use. I will be cooking 1-3 times a week. Hopefully every week.

Thanks

I have a Maverick ET 7 with 2 meat probes. It also has worked well for me on a personal basis. I have the same distance issues as RibDog, but it works very well at 30' through a window

Ribdog,being my teammate,I'm pretty familiar how it is used.

At contests we use them to be sure the cooker is running.We use Taylors,or comparable,to check cooker temps,and meat temps.

He might use one at home,at night,to do a load of butts-to be sure the cooker is running.

We are confident enough in all ours,we don't bother.

We may hook up therms in the morning,to start checking the load for ready.

Yes,the Maverick is the most accepted for its use.

I do have one in my cook kit-somewhere.

If we are sitting around/sleeping very near it-it could sound the "on fire",or" dead fire" alert.
Hope this helps some.

I ordered the Maverick - 73. I wanted the oven probe as well as the meat probe. That's the main reason I want this. I want to use it as an alarm if something goes wrong with the smoker. I am concerned about the distance issues but the others I looked at with a longer stated distance only had a meat probe. We'll see!

Don't go with a Weber, I've gone through 2 in the last 6 months. I just bought a dual probe Taylor

I have been using the 73 for a couple of years. Very careful with the probes -- been told not to let water get inside the wire end of the probe. Had a problem with one of the probes at the connector -- called Maverick and they shipped a new one asap. Distance is not great, but the alarm is loud enough to wake me if something happens to the smoker.

Todd,if you really are concerned,we had a post about buying the parts from Radio Shack with the exact part numbers for a couple dollars and however much cable you wished to extend.They had done up to 1,000 ft-I believe.

Maybe a Taylor?

Smokin' may be able to find the old post on here,or maybe I can find my hard copy.

I know that one large load ruined can justify about any expense-but I think you'll find that fooling around with the batteries,poor response,etc will be enough aggravation that you won't mess with the Maverick,or a comparable unit.I've also gotten a false feeling of security using them.

Bill[Dixie Chicks] loves gadgets and had an English send and receive unit that actually would work.His email is maybe around on the CS forums?

I carry a Maverick in the cook kit and I loan it out occasionally,but never use it.

On all our cookers over a bunch of yrs,and all the folks I've cooked with,I really can't remember a single time I've missed a wireless.

Of course,I do tend to walk by the cookers every few hrs,just to satisfy myself.

Fast Eddy taught many of us,even on long distance/expensive contest trips to get our big meats running right on the FEC and go to the motel ,until time to come back and get the ribs ready to go on.

Now,I plug a Taylor[ or any box store unit] into my big meats when I figure I'm within a couple,or three hrs of needing to check doneness with an instaread.

Seems like any CS cookers,once I've figured out the hot/cool spots and the approximate timing kinda take care of themselves.

Just my experiences,but hope this helps a little.

The ET-73 works well for me, but it has a couple of issues I'm not happy with. When setting the temperature the numbers only go in the up direction. So if you wanted to set it to 150 degrees, you have to hold the set button down until it gets up to the highest temperature, and starts back down at the beginning. The second problem is that to turn the remote unit on, you have to take off the little wire stand, then the plastic hanging clip, then the battery door. If you resign yourself to those 2 PITA's, then it works good. I haven't had any problem with the base unit staying connected to the remote.

Thanks for the advice. I ordered it so I will try it and probably have the same dislikes but we will give it a go. I do like the idea of hardwiring it to the house. Thanks Tom! I will look for the post with the parts from Radio Shack.

Thanks again!!

The Maverick ET 7's remote has a button on the back making it easy turn on. Temp setting goes up and down also.

Update!!! My trailer sits in the driveway at the end of the house. The smoker is in the trailer. Got a load going in the smoker and took the receiving unit into the house with me. I couldn't get a signal unless I was standing at the window looking down at the trailer. Line of sight I was only 10' to 15' away from the smoker. Not very happy with the results. I realize there are many variables that contribute to the results. The metal trailer, the house and other things.

I'm going to take Tom's advice and hardwire a probe into the house and make sure I'm getting the correct info when I want it.

Thanks guys!!!

I received a new Maveric ET 73 last week. I changed the batteries and it worked for 1 smoke. I have followed all the directions including turning the receiver on first. The receiver just does not pick up the signal, even when the two units are next to each other. I am going to send it back to Amazon.

Terry Sandlin
Topeka, KS