RFX Frustrations

[BKYDBBQ]

I keep trying my RFX and I keep ending up disappointed.

Smoked a chuck roast today. The RFX Gateway was plugged in to a power source the entire time. After 9 hours it was down to 10%. I had it plugged into an apple wal-wart first and then a battery pack for charging phones and other devices. Neither of them charged the Gateway while it was on. I turned it off and the battery pack charged it slightly. When I was done with the cook I plugged it into a receptacle in the house with USB ports and it finally started charging.

The one probe I could get to work also lost it's charge about the same time as the gateway.

Apparently the RFX items are limited to a 10 hour window. So I guess the key is to wait until you are into the cook to start using the probes since the first few hours of a long cook it isn't that important to know the internal temps.

Unless I am using a rotisserie, which I don't even own yet, I will probably stick with my Smoke X4 which has never let me down. I have more faith in my old Maverick XR-50s than the RFX.

Honestly, other than having a pit temp probe I usually don't have a need for a remote thermometer.

Just needed to vent...

[briano52]

Not sure what the issue is with the OP's RFX. I have not had similar with mine. I did learn that it will not charge with many ordinary USB cords. Use the one that came with the RFX for best charging results.

Thermoworks has very responsive customer service and support help. Give them a call or an email and they can probably help.

[Alan Brice]

As briano52 suggested, use the factory gear til you get things figured out. Make certain it is not your base(battery) and check to make sure it is 2.4. I use those Mr. Clean white sponges to brighten the probe for good contact. Or call Cust serv.

[dpearce]

Yeah, I've noticed when I've mixed up power warts with other devices, the Signals I have doesn't charge quite right. I second the advice briano52 suggests!

[jfmorris]

BKYDBBQ I've run Boston butt cooks of 15+ hours using the RFX, without it plugged in. If I use the Billows though I am plugged in using the Billows supply.

That said - if you are depleting faster than you are charging, I have two thoughts:

1. Your RFX is defective, and has a bad battery. Contact them about it.
2. You are not using the supplied power supply and cable for the RFX. It may be putting out higher current than the ones you are trying.
3. There is a note in the instruction sheet for the RFX that if you use 12V charging, it is MUCH MUCH slower than when using 5V charging to recharge the RFX gateway. I would check into that.

Hope you get the issue resolved.

My biggest problem has been that if I use the 1.5 degree reporting setting (which says it is for cooks up to 15 hours), one of my probes tends to die out in about 9-10 hours. I changed it to the 3 degree setting, and it lasts a full butt or brisket cook. I don't quite understand how their setting works, as I seem to get readings much more often than every 1, 1.5 or 3.0 degrees from the probe, regardless of that setting in the app.

[Jerod Broussard]

You should confer with an electrical engineer.....bahhhhhhhh........

[BKYDBBQ]

Thank you for the suggestions. The gateway problem has been resolved. It is amazing what you can learn when you back and read the instructions.

The Gateway only charges with a USB-A to USB-C cable a USB-C to USB-C doesn't charge, which explains why it wasn't charging.

Still working on the probe issues.

[jfmorris]

In the app, try changing the probe setting from 1.0 to 1.5 or 3.0 degree reporting. In my experience it still reports more often than that, but my probes were dying at 10 hours on the 1.5 setting, and at 3.0 they outlast a butt or brisket cook.

[briano52]

BKYDBBQ I've run Boston butt cooks of 15+ hours using the RFX, without it plugged in. If I use the Billows though I am plugged in using the Billows supply.

That said - if you are depleting faster than you are charging, I have two thoughts:

1. Your RFX is defective, and has a bad battery. Contact them about it.
2. You are not using the supplied power supply and cable for the RFX. It may be putting out higher current than the ones you are trying.
3. There is a note in the instruction sheet for the RFX that if you use 12V charging, it is MUCH MUCH slower than when using 5V charging to recharge the RFX gateway. I would check into that.

Hope you get the issue resolved.

My biggest problem has been that if I use the 1.5 degree reporting setting (which says it is for cooks up to 15 hours), one of my probes tends to die out in about 9-10 hours. I changed it to the 3 degree setting, and it lasts a full butt or brisket cook. I don't quite understand how their setting works, as I seem to get readings much more often than every 1, 1.5 or 3.0 degrees from the probe, regardless of that setting in the app.

Yes, I also found that the RFX doesn't like chargers that put out 12 volts. I have put tags on my Thermoworks chargers to make sure a use the right one with the correct equipment. I set my RFX reporting for the longest interval which is 3 secs I believe?

When I first got my RFX I had some issues with connectivity. That issue has gone away, and I am not sure what I did to fix that! Now my RFX gets a lot of use. Spendy, but it works as advertised and other brands of wireless temp probes all failed. I am a big fan of Thermoworks products and their wonderful customer support.

After getting the RFX, I installed an EERO mesh system for my house WIFI. It has a really strong signal, even in the outdoor kitchen. Maybe my RFX likes that although I didn't do the EERO for that. Welcome bonus to the EERO system.