Have any of you used both signals and Smoke X2 or X4? With my large Backwoods smoker, I want to upgrade to a 4 channel alarm thermometer. I know that both are good as I currently have the Smoke x2 with billows. I’m not sure that I will keep using billows since I don’t really smoke with my kettle anymore.
I could move towards Fireboard, but I’m weary of the higher price point. I’m also weary of relying on an app instead of on the IR device that smoke uses. Have y’all found that the app for Signals reliably wakes you up at night when something goes wrong on an overnight cook?
I have the Smoke X4 and the Signals. Once I got the Smoke the Signals hasn't gotten any use. I am not a fan of having to use the app to track things. When I did use it it was nice to be able to run to the store or whatever and see what is going. But I definitely prefer the Smoke X4 to the Signals.
SnS Kettle
Napoleon 500 Pro gasser grill
Weber Slate 30” griddle
Gozney Arc XL pizza oven
Instant Pot Duo Crisper 8 qt
Cuisinart food processor
Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
Breville Smart toaster oven
Anova Sous vide (Pro version and Standard Version)
Cabella 15” Vacuum Sealer
Combustion Inc Wireless Probes (Gen2 upgrades)
Fireboard v2
Fireboard Spark
Fireboard Pulse (3) probes and S1G antenna
ThermoWorks RFX gateway and 2 RFX meat probes
Thermoworks IR gun
Thermoworks MK4
Thermoworks Zero
Thermoworks Signals
7 Shun knives (paring to 12" slicer)
Misen Chef's knife
Dalstrong Phantom Series Boning Knife
8-9 other knives (enough to get an eye roll from wife!)
2 Mandolins, 1 veggie spiralizer
Work Sharp E5 sharpener
Chef's Choice sharpener
Hone Rolling Sharpener
I am on the opposite side from you JoeSousa . I prefer the WiFi-based devices versus those that are only Bluetooth like the Smoke. I do have a Signals, although I have not used it very much - I have a Fireboard 2 which I prefer over it.
I always have my iPad or smartphone at hand, so using an App is no big deal and preferred to having to use a dedicated display device. That is my one beef with Combustion Inc's wireless probes (Bluetooth only) and CI still needs an App to properly monitor the very in-depth temp readings their probes provide.
Got the Smoke vs the Signal or Fireboard because my Samsung Galaxy android phone doesn't like to connect or stay connected to, basically, anything. So far, everything has worked well with the Smoke, and it make enough noise to wake me up when the alarm goes off.
I have the Smoke 2X and the Signals. The Smoke is a simple base unit and receiver with two temp probes. You have to be within range of the base unit for the receiver to work and you can't adjust the alarm settings from the receiver. That has to be done at the base. Thermoworks sells a wifi bridge for the Smoke but I didn't have any luck running that with mine. It kept losing connection so I gave up using it.
I use the Signals to control my fan unit on a PBC. I find it handy to be able to control the temp and alarms from my iPhone. Again, you have to be within range of wireless for it to work, but that has not been a problem for me. Both are good for what they do.
I also have a Fireboard Version 1 and much prefer it to the Signals for fan and temperature control. Fireboard really put a lot of thought into their app and I have found it to be pretty much flawless. Much more user friendly and intuitive than the Thermoworks wifi products.
If not cooking outdoors, I am cooking on the stovetop with my 14" carbon steel wok, 12" CI skillet, or in the oven with my two Lodge CI pizza pans, or two dutch ovens. I've also got a nifty Lodge carbon steel grill pan that rocks for veggies outdoors.
My son in law has the Signals and loves it. I’ve got the original Smoke with the WiFi gateway, so that gives me the dedicated remote as well as the phone app that the Signals uses. I find that the phone app rarely wakes me up at night for alarm conditions, possibly due to notification settings on my phone and white noise (box fan) my wife uses to sleep. The dedicated remote will consistently wake me up, so I like having both options.
When I first got the gateway and the app I used it a ton but lately find myself just using the dedicated remote unless I need to monitor the cook from farther away than the range of the remote.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
I've used them both, however I didn't use them in the context of alarm-in-the-middle-of-the-night. Personally I favor a dedicated receiver and not the necessity of an app, but purely personal preference. Because of that, I am team Smoke X4. (It's a beast by the way).
I have a Signals and I like it. I'm a computer programmer, so the phone app or website control of the system fits in my life. I have good house coverage with WiFi, so the signals always stays connected. I have left the house and monitored the cook from the store; cannot do that with Bluetooth. I purchased Signals over Fireboard for 2 reasons. One was price and the other presentation. Fireboard was a little more expensive when you added the fan and it did not display as well (a little utilitarian look).
I had an old cheap Bluetooth control with remote. It would not say connected unless the remote was close, if I came inside the house the connection dropped. So I was soured on Bluetooth.
ThermoWorks is good company with great customer support. I cannot speak to Fireboard. I have seen many reviews that state it is very good.
AR rated the Fireboard and Smoke-X Platinum, and Signals Gold. Smoking Meat Geeks rates Signals, Smoke-X and Fireboard high.
Hmm, based on the mixed reviews, I’m wondering if I should keep my current Smoke X2 for overnight cooks and get signals so I have the ability to leave home during daytime cooks. I’ll have to see if they put signals on sale again at the same price I saw it at during Christmas season when I have the money to purchase.
They both have worked well and I use both to control the billows when I use it.
My preference for overnighters is the Smoke. I found that the phone-based alarms of the signals didnt necessarily wake me up (hence why I then acquired the smoke). The handheld device of the Smoke can wake the dead.
For daytime use I think it's a wash. If I had a redo I'd just get the smoke.
Most definitely. The graphs have helped me get a better feel for how a particular piece of meat is cooking, and I have finally stopped panicking at stalls.
I have one of each, although only just recently. I have had a Smoke X4 for long time, love it. I don't mind the satellite monitor, it sticks to metal stuff and isn't any more difficult to carry around than the phone. I never leave the house with grill or smoker going, and rarely even sleep then, too paranoid for problems developing. My Smoke had a defect from the beginning, that irritated me to death - one of the little springs in the battery compartment was not attached. It popped out every time I changed the batteries, and took a toothpick, skewer, and or hemostat (or all three) to wedge back in there with the battery in proper place. Should have sent back right away, but just cursed and kept monkeying with it.
I have a bad habit (ok, more than one, but..) of leaving it stuck on the grill or smoker outside, then having the batteries dead next time I want to use. So changed them often. One day back around Oct, I was changing batteries and the little spring popped out and flew across the den. Couldn't find anywhere, tried to rig it up with the spring from a ball point pen (didn't work) and then emailed Thermoworks. They sent me a shipping label to send back, said if was still under warranty would fix and return to me. I kept thinking I would find that spring, so never sent it back (it's still sitting here), and then around Thanksgiving the sales started. I ordered a Signals, thinking being able to charge would be better, and - bonus - comes in my fav spring/grass green color. So.
I like it, it also has four probes/holes, also magnet sticks to the grill or smoker. Phone app doesn't bother me, I have strong wifi with good range (Orbi satellites around the place.) My phone is always close by.
Unfortunately, my bad battery habit persists, so I still tend to leave it stuck up out there until dead, then realize when I need to use again. It takes a while to charge, so I recently smoked a corned beef > pastrami by charging, checking temp, charging, checking temp. I have a Thermopen, but the little plastic circular battery cover is stuck on so tight I've nearly destroyed trying to get it off, and so it's dead too.
I have a solution, for after this holiday stretch. I just recently went to a plug in hybrid car, so want a 240v outlet in garage for that. I'm going to have electrician run some additional outlets to the lanai/patio also, so I can charge and use at same time. Unfortunately, life being what it is, my breaker box is full and I need to add another, so need a good day of electrical work I'm thinking.
So: bottom line, I really like the Signals, I have always liked my Smoke X4, but for reasons of my own making, neither is great for me right now. If I had to choose, I'd pick the Signals, just because I'm tired of my life being controlled by AA batteries.
Alan Brice I think she would need either a new and bigger electric panel, or a sub panel. A 240V run would need two full slots on a panel if I understand correctly. I second the need for a certified Electrition!
I'm in the same spot with the breaker panel. As we get work done on the house there will need to be an addition there, I'm hoping I can include it into the scope of other work (probably the deck re-do).
I went through the same process a few years ago when I realized I didn’t like my chef alarm. I chose the smoke X4 because the signals had some quirky issues that were covered in the review written a few years ago on the free side. Plus I didn’t think I wanted to use an app to check the temp and liked the idea of having a receiver I could keep with me. Plus I wanted something that would work with the billows fan. I like it. However the thermometer fell on my concrete patio and went from a 4 probe to a 3 probe unit. I was lucky enough to get the Weber smart grilling hub through these website earlier in the year and it had become my go to. I like that it has a rechargeable battery and the app itself is great. I’ll only use my Smoke X4 when I need to use my billows, which isn’t really too often.
Gear includes: Char-Griller's Grand Champ off set stick burner/smoker, SnS Kamado Deluxe, Weber 22, PBC, Victory gasser, Victory 36 griddle, Smoke Hollow electric smoker. ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4, Smoke, Signals, and RFX4, Meater+, SNS-500, roti fits 22 n gasser, Emeril countertop TO, InkBird Sous Vide, Potane Vac/Sealer. Fire&Ice griddle/cooler ensemble.
3-pkg of Collapsible Prep Tubs
Junior, Original, Xtra Lg. SS D. Norcross
Complete set (Tx PJ!) Wusthof Knives n block.
Dalstrong:
Phantom Series Paring knife
Shogun SeriesX 6" Chef knife
Gladiator Series 12"Cleaver knife
Just got into charcoal Dec ‘21 (PBC)
fav is brisky. Love Turkey on PBC. also Turkey in the glass,(any nice bourbon)
Bud has always been my barley pop.
Been smoking a handful of years, just got serious in the last two or three years. Thanks to AR n @glemn picked up an SnS Kamado for appx 1/3 price of new. I dont think he used it twice. Love AR! keep calm n smoke on! Miss you Bonesy.
Dan Deter I'm hoping to incorporate into something else, also. In Oct 2022 i put up new roof, and solar panels, bundled as one installation. I was able to use the total for the solar tax credit, since one invoice. I have not put up the battery bank, plan to do this year, it has tax credit available also. They will put new breaker box, and I think can prob do a dedicated EV outlet same time, through the solar company. My lanai had one outlet when I bought house, I've already had a second outlet split off from it for tv, but I'm to the point of needing more juice out there. Will have to do thar separately.
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