Thermoworks RFX First Impressions

[cwood]

Out of curiosity how long did you hold it? In cooler or oven @what temp?

In oven held at 150-170 for 11 hours. Came off smoker at 190 deg in the point. Butcher paper wrapped, pan with some water then sealed over with foil. Too long and too much heat and time required for a cooler. I used to try to time perfectly to probe tender with not more than 5 hours in cooler wrapped in towels etc.....but off at 185 to 190 then the ability to hold 10 hours plus is so much more relaxing.

 

[cwood]

I printed a box for storage of the RFX if anyone has a 3d printer and would like one, here is the link on printables

Storage Box for Thermoworks RFX Probes and RX by cwoodffr | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Box to store Thermoworks components between cooks | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

 

[jimboc22]

I printed a box for storage of the RFX if anyone has a 3d printer and would like one, here is the link on printables

Very cool. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Smokin Okie]

Are there any special instructions for cleaning the RFX meat probes ?

Mine are working flawlessly in pork butts, but they're gonna need a good cleaning after 10 hours of smoke.

 

[schlotz]

They are dishwasher safe so have at it.

 

[cwood]

Are there any special instructions for cleaning the RFX meat probes ?

Mine are working flawlessly in pork butts, but they're gonna need a good cleaning after 10 hours of smoke.

I most cases they need to be scrubbed. Plastic scrubbing mesh works best.

 

[Smokin Okie]

It became a moot point, as Mrs Okie got to them without asking me.

They both look new and pretty now after spending 9 hours in the offset.

 

[ThermoWorks]

Are there any special instructions for cleaning the RFX meat probes ?

Mine are working flawlessly in pork butts, but they're gonna need a good cleaning after 10 hours of smoke.

Great question - it is fantastic to hear that they work flawlessly for you. We would suggest using your typical dishwashing method - if that doesn't get where you need to be - you can use a fine steel wool.

 

[civilsmoker]

Are there any special instructions for cleaning the RFX meat probes ?

Mine are working flawlessly in pork butts, but they're gonna need a good cleaning after 10 hours of smoke.

I have been using a nylon dish pad and a dot of dish soap…..just a few passes and bingo

 

[JR98]

Hi all! As I mentioned over in Roll Call, this thread is what brought me to SMF after receiving my RFX setup for Christmas. Thanks to all for their observations, as it really helped me get a head start on things! I've done three cooks with my setup (Since Christmas, he said?!? Yes, lame. ) and I've learned something new each time, as I knew I would. This may get long, but on to the show...

I've been using a Smoke with the included remote (no WiFi) for many years for smoking and a Thermapen for grilling for many years, so those are my 'base' for temperature control. My ratio between grilling and smoking is pretty even, and I have done each so far with RFX, and intend to use RFX for both going forward.

Gateway: Fine for smoking, but my BGE really doesn't have a good place to 'stick' it magnetically. Perhaps we can get a stand/nest, like the silicone accessory for my Smoke remote. Perhaps I can craft up something magnetic for my BGE. Otherwise the wired grate probe doesn't bother me. For smoking.

Grilling is a different matter, though. This is where those nits above really start to show their warts. I really don't need the precise grate temps when grilling, and the gateway gets in the way in my setup. Much like a different brand, a combo lid temp and gateway device would really shine for grilling. (If there are no patent/IP considerations, then: Hint, Hint!!!! ThermoWorks ;) )

And, the USB-C charging situation is lame, but that horse is beat, already. That's something I expect from a cheap no-name product, not product that angles for the Pro/Prosumer market.

Probes: I think the design tradeoffs here are mostly fine. The physical/hardware is fine for both grilling and smoking. One nit is the non-pointy end evidently needs to be pretty clean to get a good charge. Not sure if my units are quirky, or 'they all do that,' but I had one fail to get a good charge because -I'm assuming- the end had some smoke residue on it. Ok, fine, I'll clean it better, but it seems a bit of an oversight to have the one spot that will get smoky be a spot that needs to be cleaned to be charged. At least mention it in the docs, or something. (Or, maybe I just missed it.) Battery life otherwise seems to be fine, though I want some more experience before I render a final judgment. (I need to use the various settings more. I found out that I get about 8 hours out of the 1 degree interval. Found out the hard way. Oops!)

The app: Fix it. (I won't repeat the previous conversations, but I agree with most or all of them.) I do think some regular status reports would help appease at least me, if not others. I know (and understand why) companies are reticent to share roadmaps/timelines, but *something* would be nice.

A few specific app notes, though: (And I can't get to my setup right now, so if I'm off on something, my apologies.)

A dashboard/all-in-one graph is my biggest wish. Similarly, all-encompassing alarms and sessions would also be nice, and would stop the constant back-and-forth in the app. (And that's the main issue, IMHO: the constant navigation.)

Temp updates: As mentioned above, I need to play around more, but the instantaneous 'sear mode' for grilling mentioned earlier would rock. 1 degree is just a bit too slow for quick, hot grills.

Firmware is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps these are situation-dependent, but a line if your firmware is/is_not current would be nice.

On a more strategic front, it seems that the BBQ/'home' products have been stapled onto this app/cloud alongside the commercial stuff, and that decision may be what causes a lot of these issues. Perhaps a 'home' app is warranted? Similarly, the 10 device limit seems arbitrary. Sure you don't want commercial users getting this for free (or so the stance appears to be,) but why punish home users for buying more of your product? I have 2 probes, and really need 4, so I'm at 5 units just as I'm getting started. You've got the serial numbers/radio_IDs, so it should be trivial to separate the home and commercial units. I don't think anybody here is singularly going to move the needle on the cloud computing bill.

Potential new hardware: I mentioned the 'grilling gateway' above. That would be a no-brainer for me to purchase. Also, some sort of remote display would be nice. I understand the whole point is an app on your own device, but something I could glance at while my hands are full, or just sitting on the counter either inside or near the grill would fit in great for my use. It could be simple, just an e-ink display that displays the various temps, updating every x seconds. (An alternative would be an old phone/device, but this way lets TW sell more stuff. Which... brings us back to the device limitation discussion.) Perhaps a chunky/bulky (big battery) wireless grate probe? (I do like that the gateway uses Pro-series probes. Easily replacable and interchangable.)

Sorry, that got real long. Thanks for listening. (Or, at least, not telling this newb you didn't! ;) )

 

[dr k]

Hi all! As I mentioned over in Roll Call, this thread is what brought me to SMF after receiving my RFX setup for Christmas. Thanks to all for their observations, as it really helped me get a head start on things! I've done three cooks with my setup (Since Christmas, he said?!? Yes, lame. ) and I've learned something new each time, as I knew I would. This may get long, but on to the show...

I've been using a Smoke with the included remote (no WiFi) for many years for smoking and a Thermapen for grilling for many years, so those are my 'base' for temperature control. My ratio between grilling and smoking is pretty even, and I have done each so far with RFX, and intend to use RFX for both going forward.

Gateway: Fine for smoking, but my BGE really doesn't have a good place to 'stick' it magnetically. Perhaps we can get a stand/nest, like the silicone accessory for my Smoke remote. Perhaps I can craft up something magnetic for my BGE. Otherwise the wired grate probe doesn't bother me. For smoking.

Grilling is a different matter, though. This is where those nits above really start to show their warts. I really don't need the precise grate temps when grilling, and the gateway gets in the way in my setup. Much like a different brand, a combo lid temp and gateway device would really shine for grilling. (If there are no patent/IP considerations, then: Hint, Hint!!!! ThermoWorks ;) )

And, the USB-C charging situation is lame, but that horse is beat, already. That's something I expect from a cheap no-name product, not product that angles for the Pro/Prosumer market.

Probes: I think the design tradeoffs here are mostly fine. The physical/hardware is fine for both grilling and smoking. One nit is the non-pointy end evidently needs to be pretty clean to get a good charge. Not sure if my units are quirky, or 'they all do that,' but I had one fail to get a good charge because -I'm assuming- the end had some smoke residue on it. Ok, fine, I'll clean it better, but it seems a bit of an oversight to have the one spot that will get smoky be a spot that needs to be cleaned to be charged. At least mention it in the docs, or something. (Or, maybe I just missed it.) Battery life otherwise seems to be fine, though I want some more experience before I render a final judgment. (I need to use the various settings more. I found out that I get about 8 hours out of the 1 degree interval. Found out the hard way. Oops!)

The app: Fix it. (I won't repeat the previous conversations, but I agree with most or all of them.) I do think some regular status reports would help appease at least me, if not others. I know (and understand why) companies are reticent to share roadmaps/timelines, but *something* would be nice.

A few specific app notes, though: (And I can't get to my setup right now, so if I'm off on something, my apologies.)

A dashboard/all-in-one graph is my biggest wish. Similarly, all-encompassing alarms and sessions would also be nice, and would stop the constant back-and-forth in the app. (And that's the main issue, IMHO: the constant navigation.)

Temp updates: As mentioned above, I need to play around more, but the instantaneous 'sear mode' for grilling mentioned earlier would rock. 1 degree is just a bit too slow for quick, hot grills.

Firmware is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps these are situation-dependent, but a line if your firmware is/is_not current would be nice.

On a more strategic front, it seems that the BBQ/'home' products have been stapled onto this app/cloud alongside the commercial stuff, and that decision may be what causes a lot of these issues. Perhaps a 'home' app is warranted? Similarly, the 10 device limit seems arbitrary. Sure you don't want commercial users getting this for free (or so the stance appears to be,) but why punish home users for buying more of your product? I have 2 probes, and really need 4, so I'm at 5 units just as I'm getting started. You've got the serial numbers/radio_IDs, so it should be trivial to separate the home and commercial units. I don't think anybody here is singularly going to move the needle on the cloud computing bill.

Potential new hardware: I mentioned the 'grilling gateway' above. That would be a no-brainer for me to purchase. Also, some sort of remote display would be nice. I understand the whole point is an app on your own device, but something I could glance at while my hands are full, or just sitting on the counter either inside or near the grill would fit in great for my use. It could be simple, just an e-ink display that displays the various temps, updating every x seconds. (An alternative would be an old phone/device, but this way lets TW sell more stuff. Which... brings us back to the device limitation discussion.) Perhaps a chunky/bulky (big battery) wireless grate probe? (I do like that the gateway uses Pro-series probes. Easily replacable and interchangable.)

Sorry, that got real long. Thanks for listening. (Or, at least, not telling this newb you didn't! ;) )

Yes! This is what I want to know. I don't need to grill steaks with a leave in probe or boil probes in the turkey under the oil etc. I understand that the RFX has no ambient sensor in the outside end since the meat is a thermal heat sink and the evaporative cooling makes them inaccurate, hence gateway independent ambient cable probe but boiling the exposed end in oil seems extreme and would conduct heat to the battery , electronics , antennae etc . What Damages a battery faster than anything no matter if lead sealed, lith Ion, nic metal hydride cr nic cad, alkaline any battery? Heat. That's why your battery gets damaged in your vehicle in the summer and you experience it when you don't have the cold cranking amps the following winter at 0*F. It's been quiet since the concerning threads rolled out. I'm looking forward with great anticipation to updates, reviews tomorrow, a year from now and whenever the warranty expires. Whatever you do, don't use any brand of spikes in a cooker unless they are in the meat or the components in the stem will fry. So with those that want an ambient, spike type, cable free rechargeable battery operated cooker therm, I'd see how these spikes that are kept safe being in meat last.