I did the Maverick ET73 mod with links and pics

[nickelmore]

I have been researching wireless thermometers for a while and based on the feedback from the forum went out and bought a ET73 so I could monitor my smoker while I was doing other tasks around the house.

I was not real happy with the range of the unit at times it was 20-25 feet. Convinced that it should actually preform as advertised I returned it to the factory for repair. Shipping and insurance was $10 and turnaround was 2 weeks. They did replace unit with another which worked about 5 feet further.

I thought they may have included a new set of probes for my aggravation, but were not included in the package.

I had seen a post for a receiver mod and then stumbled upon a transmitter mod, and figured what do I have to loose.

I figure it does not work now as a wireless, and if I break it I would buy something different.

A few notes.

Read both links thoroughly. In my preliminary test I was able to get readings from inside my brick garage to inside my brick house about 50 feet away, 100 percent better than before.

I am sure this will void your warranty, if you are unsure of what your doing, ask around until you find someone who can do it.

I took the board out of the face, when you do that the LCD display falls out. This is one of those oh sh*t moments. I think the mod can be done with out removing the 4 very tiny screws that hold the board in.
If you do remove the board make sure the LCD and little foam pad stay with the cover and line the board back up put all 4 screws in before tightening them up.

The transmitter solder point needs the circuit board to be scratched up to remove a protective coating. I then "tinned' it and soldered the wire on.

I used solid copper wire (like the wire in a motor windings) then covered it with heat shrink tube.

I think both modifications took be less than an hour from finding all the tools to clean up.

Transmitter Mod

http://www.instructables.com/id/Incr...Q-Thermometer/

IMG]http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww36/nickelmore_bucket/Maverick/IMG00205.jpg[/IMG]

IMG]http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww36/nickelmore_bucket/Maverick/IMG00206-1.jpg[/IMG]


Receiver Mod

http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?p=909











Post or PM me if you have any questions, I will look back after the Bears Packers Game .

 

[smokeon]

I did both mods on my ET-73. I estimate the range at about 400 feet now. And when I measured it, the receiver was inside with my wife and I was 3 houses down the street.

For anyone reading, if you only do one of the mods, do the receiver. Maverick went to great lengths to seal the transmitter, and by drilling a hole in the case, we are defeating that work. I did use silicone sealer to try to reseal the case, but I don't know how well it will hold.

All in all, I highly recommend this mod.

 

[rickw]

When can I drop mine off for the mod

 

[DanMcG]

thanks again for the links Nickle, I still need to do a receiver.

 

[treegje]

I have the receiver mod done,and it is a big difference
Now he goes through 5 stone walls in my living room
if it is cold outside I do not always going out

I had done that much earlier,a recommended

 

[mballi3011]

I have a Et-72 do you think the mod would work on mine too. I can maybe see the front of yours but It should be basicly the same reciever cause it just has a single probe. So maybe I can tryit on mine.

 

[nwbhoss]

I must have got lucky with mine as I have my smoker on my back porch and I can keep the reciever in my living room about 70ft away and thru two rooms and it works great!!! I did not check to see how far I can get but I will on my next smoke.

It should be more salmon

 

[nickelmore]

I would guess they are the same, they are pretty easy to take apart.

It was a pretty easy mod, I have not tested in feet, all I know is I sat inside last weekend and still monitored temps on a 12 hour smoke. I know that may not be the manly way to smoke, but 20 degrees outside watching a big box is not my ideal way to spend a day.

 

[ryan in louisville]

Your link to the instructables website isn't working, I think because it got shortened and has "..." in the url.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Incr...Q-Thermometer/

awesome idea, I always dreaded getting out of range and not realizing it.

 

[ciolli]

I will have to try this out. My new ET-73 should be delivered today!

 

[khuhner]

I received an ET-73 for Christmas and used it for the first time today. Very nice features. However I noticed after the smoke that the transmitter was quite smoky. I had it hanging from one of the grill racks inside the smoking chamber. Is that OK for the unit? The instructions didnt say anything about that, so I'm wondering if it's just discolored or should I lay the transmitter outside the chamber and leave the probes inside?

Thoughts?

 

[rickw]

The transmitter should be left outside the smoking chamber. I'm surprised you got any readings on the base unit at all.

 

[rhankinsjr]

As RickW already said, all that should be in the smoker with 99.999% of the wireless therms should be the probe. The actual electronics aren't supposed to be getting smoked or heated. You're lucky if you didn't do any actual damage to the unit by having the electronics inside the smoker.

Glad you're out there smoking though!

 

[khuhner]

I seem silly now...

...

I was drunk with excitement smoking in the cold and didnt think about that...

Kurt

 

[nickelmore]

You just have to post a picture......

Also post some Qview of what you were smokeing.

 

[khuhner]

So here is the ET-73...It appears it's still working

:

So I smoked a steelhead trout filet (brined overnight), chicken tenderloins, wings, and two slabs of pork ribs (from Costco; they have access to some huge pigs, as these ribs were massive!). The chicken and ribs were coated with Jeffs bbq rub overnight.

Here are the prep photos:

Here are the after photos:

Steelhead (half eaten!)

Wings:

Ribs:

The chicked tenerloins were very dry and there were several that werent dont all the way. I having trouble getting my smoker to 220-240.

Kurt

 

[nickelmore]

The maverick not so good.

That is a whole lot of different types of food to smoke at the same time.

All of it looks good.