So, WHICH remote reading thermometer to buy ?

[marctrees]

In my quest of selecting  a remote reading dual probe therm, so that I can sit on my couch, potato like. 

I have read through this entire sub forum.

Maverick seems to be the choice, with the VERY weakest link being the probe sensitivity to moisture, even just under normal use,

The Brainbox seems to be pretty good, but not so much the probes.

It seems the best choice is Maverick, BUT... with when you take it out of the box,  DIY probe joints hi temp siliconing, covered by high temp resistant heat shrink.

Agreed ?, or opinions please.

BTW, I have no Smart phone, just the most cheapest basic cell phone,  no Blue teeth,  we live verryy rural, very marginal service. 

Dang, this probe problem seems to me to be very lame to me, made in Jina probably doesn't help.

Why they don't make this improvement to be stellar in their field, I don't know.

Or is there something better?     Marc

 

[JckDanls 07]

Mavs are/were the go to therms.. but Thermapen just put out a new unit called "Smoke"... I had just bought a Mav 733 and then 4 or 5 days later Thermapen comes out with Smoke ... If you are gonna go with the Mavs.. do the 733 since it has the Hybrid Probes come with it.. they are a little better probes than what comes on the 732 ... I sold my Mav and went and got the Smoke last night...

http://www.thermoworks.com/Smoke

 

[marctrees]

JckDanls - Ok excellent answer.

My thought is, ....maybe... a better option, but no history yet ?

Tell me if I'm mistaken.

I think this is the first Thermoworks;/ Thermapen venture into "remote"  ?

Comments welcome please.

Re: Maverick improved probes, I myself, personally, to be safer, would still silicone/heat shrink them.

Can't see how it could hurt.

Only problem w that, is finding a small quantity of suitable heat shrink, bunch of searching, and then who knows what $ for a few inches w shipping.

Marc

 

[SmokinAl]

I have had the smoke for a couple of weeks.

It is a commercial therm, built to withstand commercial use.

The quality is excellent, and a huge step up from the Mav's.

Al

 

[chilerelleno]

I"m buying a Thermoworks Smoke as a Christmas present to myself.

 

[mdboatbum]

Count me as another vote for the smoke. Yes, it's a new product. But it's coming from a company with a history of making rock solid, dependable, accurate thermos. The maverick on the other hand has a history of mediocrity. Mine literally fell apart.

 

[dr k]

 
In my quest of selecting  a remote reading dual probe therm, so that I can sit on my couch, potato like. 

I have read through this entire sub forum.

Maverick seems to be the choice, with the VERY weakest link being the probe sensitivity to moisture, even just under normal use,

The Brainbox seems to be pretty good, but not so much the probes.

It seems the best choice is Maverick, BUT... with when you take it out of the box,  DIY probe joints hi temp siliconing, covered by high temp resistant heat shrink.

Agreed ?, or opinions please.

BTW, I have no Smart phone, just the most cheapest basic cell phone,  no Blue teeth,  we live verryy rural, very marginal service. 

Dang, this probe problem seems to me to be very lame to me, made in Jina probably doesn't help.

Why they don't make this improvement to be stellar in their field, I don't know.

Or is there something better?     Marc

That's why I don't have a Mav 732, 733 or 735.  Some people find it ok to buy/replace two probes a year.  Some like me don't.  Some have never had problems.  It's whatever is acceptable to you.  There have been too many threads IMO on bad experiences with Mav probes and poor reviews on them from people that build/sell probes on SMF.  I have never bought a therm from Thermoworks but find the large display of the new Smoke RF remote therm to be intriguing, simple to use and versatile with their several Pro Series probes.  I look forward with great anticipation on SMF on reviews for this $100.00 therm.  If the quality is higher with this new Smoke therm over the Mav, then the price is justifiable, regarding the time and money you save from replacing Mav probes.  It's all good!  Some people would rather spend more $ for less frustration.  I have four digital cable/probe therms two are RF remote.  They are calibrated for my elevation and all four together cost about the same as a Mav.  I've had these therms for several years with no problems and all are from different manufacturers.  I don't care.  I'm not picky.  The cables have to be steel braided and not silicone coated.  I do RTV silicone seal all my probe/cable joints.  Something needs to fail before I buy again and that gives me time to continue couning pros/cons of the Mav vs Smoke.  If I had to decide now I go with Smoke from Thermoworks. 

-Kurt      

 

[dr k]

Thermoworks is a marketing Co. in Utah that sells the UK made Thermapen as well as their own products.  It eludes they are the same Co. because they both start with Therm.  ETI, Ltd. (Electronic Temperature Instruments) in Worthing, UK makes the Thermapen.  Thermoworks sells, warrantees and repairs the Thermapen only if you buy it through them. Smoke is a Thermoworks product.  I think that's why the Thermapen is so expensive (Thermoworks being a middle man.)  That's why I went with the Thermowand from Lavatools instant read therm (now Javelin) instead of the Thermapen.  Popular therms made by CDN (Component Design Northwest) and Oregon Scientific out of Oregon, Maverick in NJ and Lavatools in CA are all assembled or Manufacturered in China.  Nothing is 100% USA.  If you find a therm that is, let us know.

-Kurt

 

[marctrees]

Doc-  If I understand you, the Smoke is not made in China?

If not, that's a huge plus for me.

So, UK or UK/USA ?  Marc

 

[marctrees]

I called Thermoworks and spoke with a great Tech guy.

He did say the Smoke is made in China.  

But good stuff follows --   We also talked about the probes vs water.

He said that even though they clearly maintain don't submerse them, he did explain testing they have done w submersion for differing lengths of time, at differing temps.

The way I understood him, it sounds like NO, or virtually no failures.

So that's pretty great info.

Also, regarding the Smoke brainbox getting caught in a brief rainshower.

He said, their experience shows no problem, as long as rain is not torrential, or extended time.

I'd still have some cover over it to be prudent.

So, it sounds great overall.

Just would be more exciting if he would have said that parts were made in UK, (next to the old farm where Babe lives) and finished in Nevada.

But then it would probably be $200, not $100.  

I'm gonna get one when I got the $.

Thanks to the respondents in this thread.   Marc