Meater Extended Range Question

[MtView]

I recently purchased the brown sugar Meater block which is supposed to provide extended bluetooth range. The block lost connection to the probe when I brought it from the grill where the block was located ten feet away into the house / kitchen with a sliding door in between. BT can go through glass, including bullet proof glass and tempered glass. Meater advertises a 165 foot range so even with signal degradation I didn't think 10 feet was a stretch.

I may have misunderstood what extended range means. I now take it that it does not refer to extended range from the probes to the block, only from the block to your phone or tablet once the block receives data. Basically, the BT in the probe is the same strength as the original Meater probe. The Meater app is phenomenal and the system seems to work well, but I'm not leaving my cooked food outside, uncovered, in the summer, just to monitor carry over cooking (which is a big selling point of the system).

I also have a Combustion Inc extended range bundle on the way. I like the development approach and I'm excited for where it's heading. It will be interesting to compare.

[DaveD]

Since getting my Fireboard, I have not used my Meater+ even one time... even though loss of connection was but a minor inconvenience for me, having no loss pretty much ever can't be beat!

[MtView]

Since getting my Fireboard, I have not used my Meater+ even one time... even though loss of connection was but a minor inconvenience for me, having no loss pretty much ever can't be beat!

I'm starting to go in the opposite direction. I have some great wired systems from Thermoworks and Fireboard and I absolutely love Signals with a Billows fan for my Bronco. It's kind of silly because I've been using wired probes for years and it's just a part of the cook, but sometimes I just want to pop in a probe and be done with it.

I'm also less concerned with pit temp when I use the SmokeFire - I figure it has to be hitting those low temps to roll all of that smoke and my ambient probe(s) won't duplicate the averaging the built in ambient probe does anyway.

[ssennott]

I have both the Meater + and the Combustion with the extender and display. The range of the Meater is very small with the grill covered that is one of the reasons I purchased the Combustion, the range is excellent with the grill covered I am usually about twenty to thirty yards away and I have not lost the signal I’m sure that the range extender
helps I should probably try a cook without the extender to see if there is any difference.

[Stuey1515]

My good ol' Maverick XR has been a fave of mine for a few years now. I can monitor 4 probes in my little pit that lives out in the shed approximately 30m away, while working in my office inside.

[MtView]

I have both the Meater + and the Combustion with the extender and display. The range of the Meater is very small with the grill covered that is one of the reasons I purchased the Combustion, the range is excellent with the grill covered I am usually about twenty to thirty yards away and I have not lost the signal I’m sure that the range extender
helps I should probably try a cook without the extender to see if there is any difference.

It didn’t occur to me that the probes connecting to the block, bought new from Meater in 2023, wouldn’t have a decent range. If the Meater block is on Wi-Fi I’m not sure what purpose a BT repeater in the block serves.

[Alan Brice]

Love my meater+! Totally disike the wires on my Thermoworks & SnS Grills. Meater will not go through oven door glass.
Orig got it for the Roti. Now I use it all the time.

[MtView]

Love my meater+! Totally disike the wires on my Thermoworks & SnS Grills. Meater will not go through oven door glass.
Orig got it for the Roti. Now I use it all the time.

I haven't used it in my oven yet. If it won't go through oven glass, I take it it's a no go for ovens? I'll probably try it at some point just to see if the glass in my oven might have different characteristics. I doubt I have different glass because most residential ovens are only made by a few companies now.

[Santamarina]

I’ve had the MEATER Block since it came out. Over the years they’ve improved the probe to block connection, but it still doesn’t have much range…it’s just more stable.

I always keep my block outside on a table near my pit. The block connects to Wi-Fi so the app works anywhere on our property.

[MtView]

One thing I noticed is that one of the probes caused interference between an iPhone 12 and JBL Flip 6 BT speaker. It's the first time I can remember anything causing interference with a BT connection I've had running from an iPhone. The iPhone and JBL speaker connection has worked flawlessly for a couple of years.

When I brought the probe near the speaker the sound became very patchy. When I moved it away it was fine. If this can cause interference, I suspect it's also very susceptible to interference. I don't know anything about BT. I imagine there are different frequencies within the spectrum and devices should have a way of picking a clear frequency. Maybe that was too much to pack into a probe.

I wonder if what is appearing like a lack of range is really the signal being blocked and disrupted because of interference?