RFX Questions

[lumbrjk]

My Thermoworks Smoke from 2018 is starting to be glitchy and I may need to consider another thermometer platform. After reading some recent reviews of the RFX, I have some questions that I was hoping could get some real world answers from those that have them. I know they are pricy, but everyone that had them said in another thread that they were worth the money.

My questions:

• Have you used your probes in oil to monitor the temp of the oil itself? I see that there is a min and max penetration depth where the probe is rated for different temps and my oil depth is only 1-1.5 inch most times. That is putting the oil line outside of the 1000 degrees region, granted the oil is only 350-400 degree range.
  • Does the 4 temp points mess with this reading as only 1-2 might be in the oil?
• I often cook where there is no WiFi. I understand you can monitor temps directly from gateway to phone over Bluetooth. How does that work practically? The gateway has to be 33 feet from my phone for me to see the temps?
• Is there an ambient temp probe?
• How does the app/cloud work? Is it a subscription?

[Panhead John]

If this helps…..I have a ThermoWorks Smoke and have used it a couple of times in the past to measure oil temps, used the ambient temp probe. I quit using them a few years ago and now use an IR thermometer to measure my oil temps. The readings are instant and no mess. Sorry, I can’t answer your other questions.

[bep35]

Agreed. IR is the way to go when measuring oil temps.

[lumbrjk]

Good point!

[GolfGeezer]

I think the minimum insertion line on the RFX will be outside your oil which could damage the probe. I do not fry in oil, so I have no direct experience with that.

The gateway can communicate to the RFX probes via sub-GHZ frequency, giving the probes to Gateway range a lot further than Bluetooth. However, the gateway still needs WiFi to connect to the Cloud and then to your App. Thermoworks says it is working on an "offline line" mode, meaning without the cloud involvement, but that has not been released.

The gateway comes with 1 ambient wired probe. The current gateway only has 1 wired port, so 1 wired probe limit.

The App is free, no subscription. The App is just "OK". Compared to Fireboard's App, it is very limited. For example, you can see 1 probe at a time, no consolidated view/graph of all probes being used. No notes or photos can be attached like you can with FB app. You cannot see what the 4 sensors are reporting, only the lowest temp, unlike Combustion Inc's app which shows all 8 sensor readings. These are my observations - grain of salt required!

I find the RFX solution to straightforward, easy to implement and use.

[lumbrjk]

Thanks, I did not realize "offline mode" was not ready yet.

Good commentary on the app and limitation of the wired port.

[PGH_RAM]

You cannot see what the 4 sensors are reporting, only the lowest temp...

I don't know if this is an update since they released the RFX of if it's been there all along, but if you set the channel to "Advanced Mode" it will show you all four sensors in the probe.

[GolfGeezer]

Good to know! Thxs!

[lumbrjk]

The comments above beg the question if I should look elsewhere as well: thinking about other brands to consider for a new platform: Thermoworks, Fireboard, Combustion... Any others? I have been a Thermoworks guy for a long time and have bought lots for myself and others as gifts, not looking for other companies.

I am looking for something versatile but mostly for smoking with a meat probe and ambient probe at a minimum. I like the alarm for waking me up at night when doing an overnight cook with the offset. The Smoke has been good for that. As mentioned I can use my IR gun for oil and MK4 for most everything else.

[GolfGeezer]

Well, you could follow me down the MCS path and buy them all! 😎

[lumbrjk]

Ha!

[radiodome21]

I don’t use oil so I can’t comment. They do include a wired probe for ambient temps though. Had mine for a month and still haven’t unraveled mine.

yet I showed my wife the RFX last night and she was very impressed. We did baked cod in the oven. Still didn’t stop us from overcooking the fish we made.

[JimLinebarger]

Actually, there is an Advanced Mode that shows all 5 sensor readings: lowest temp plus all 4 individual sensors. It can be set to report in 1° to 3° intervals.

[RolfTaylor]

Combustion really has raised the bar, and also Chris publishes incredibly educational videos about stuff (including DIY slurpies). I am cheep, but do believe in supporting people who raise the bar. I really can't do without my Predictive thermometers.

[jfmorris]

I don't think the wireless probes are going to be good for monitoring hot oil itself, but looks like you can stick it into meat you are deep frying and drop the entire thing into the oil.

I think uou will want one of their wired probes and a pot clip that lets you situate it to immerse the tip in the oil. I would not use the ambient temp probe, but one of the longer 6 inch or 12 inch high temp probes, and just be sure the tip is in the oil.

A clip like this would help:

https://www.thermoworks.com/tx-1007x-pc/

What is glitchy with your Smoke? Thermoworks has repaired mine before, and outside of warranty I think they have a flat fee of something like $29 for service. Probes can go bad of course.

[lumbrjk]

I get weird temp readings from time to time. I tried a new probe and it was the same story. Temps will vary from -30s to really high, and then the correct as I twist the connector. The port is so small I can’t really clean the terminals.

I might try to send it back if it’s $30!

[jfmorris]

lumbrjk give them a call or email them. They can probably repair the ports. Also, keep an eye open for sales. Recently the Smoke has been as cheap as $49.

[jfmorris]

lumbrjk a new Smoke is on sale right now for $49.50 - in case the repair is more than it was when I got mine fixed.

[lumbrjk]

Thank you! I’ll check it out!

[surfdog]

I wouldn’t use an RFX probe for oil temps. You could “plug it in” to whatever you’re cooking…but I don’t think it would work (if at all) as an oil temp probe. For that I stick with one of my other devices. For basic oil temps, I tend to just use my ChefAlarm. It’s simple and given the various length of probes available, there’s probably one for every fryer.

My Control Freak also has a probe, but it’s a bit overkill if frying is the only task needed. Heck, it’s overkill for a lot of things. LOL