Thinking of upgrading to a Fireboard 2 or UltraQ and have some questions…
First of all hello Pitmaster Club! I haven't been active in a long time, but it's good to be back!
I'm currently using a BBQ Guru CyberQ and although it works great I'm just not a fan of it's interface or lack of app support (it's the non Cloud version). Because of this I have decided to upgrade and have some questions…
What's the current take on Fireboard 2 vs UltraQ?
Going the Fireboard 2 route, please help me decide between the Drive and Pro model
If I go the Drive or Pro route can I use my existing PitViper fan? It's not clear to me if I need any additional cables, etc to make that work.
A year or so ago I upgraded from the original Fireboard to the Fireboard 2. It works flawlessly with the existing PitViper fan I was using before the switch.
A year or so ago I upgraded from the original Fireboard to the Fireboard 2. It works flawlessly with the existing PitViper fan I was using before the switch.
Thanks appreciate the response. When using the PitViper fan with a Fireboard 2 Drive do you need the Drive Fan Control Cable?
Weber Silver A (fixer upper project, currently sitting dead in my garage)
KBQ C-60
Accessories
Fireboard 2
Weber iGrill Mini
Weber Instant Read
Random Digital Instant Read from the Grocery Store (in a pinch)
Weber Charcoal Chimney
Slick University of Michigan apron w/built in bottle opener
Beverages
Favorite beer(s): Bell's Oberon, Founders All Day I{A, Corona Extra, Heineken, Guinness
Red Wine: Anything dry and under $15 per bottle
Whiskey: Makers Mark French Oak, Buffalo Trace.. anything purchased by other people and shared
About MeReal name: Jesse
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Favorite Football Team: Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) and the Detroit Lions (primary NFL) / Baltimore Ravens (secondary NFL, after the Lions are statistically eliminated from the playoffs... usually by Thanksgiving)
I have the standard Fireboard 2 (since I mainly use my KBQ) and I love it. Totally worth the $$, works every time, easy to clean, came with a tee shirt when I bought it for Black Friday. Stellar.
I have the Fireboard 2 and absolutely love it. I bought the "Drive" version and it runs my PitVipr fan using the port on the side. No additional cable needed. I highly recommend it!
I had an original FB and upgraded to a FB2 Drive about a year ago. I love it. As far as Drive vs Pro it all depends on how many probes you need and what temps you want. The K probes from the Pro can go to like 1000° if you want to be able to temp a pizza oven or something, but it only supports 3 probes versus 6 on the others. I think the regular probes aren’t supposed to be used over something like 700°.
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.
myndcraft I have another abandoned product from BBQ Guru - the PartyQ - and I think you need to ask yourself if you WANT to plunk down $282.50 with them on another product that may be abandoned or have its app or website stop working.
My PartyQ is nice for what it is - a totally offline temp controller, and I got it mostly because it was cheap, and it ran on batteries, meaning I didn't have to run an extension cord to my grill.
If I were spending the money myself today on a new controller, and especially if I already had a Pit Viper fan and the grill adapter, I would go Fireboard 2 Drive without question. Fireboard 2 Drive is $249. UltraQ by itself without a fan or adapter is $282.50. I think the long term experience is likely to be better with the Fireboard product...
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 have an Ultra Q and the app and connectivity work fine. That being said, the ramp feature has not worked since the end of last year, after a firmware update.. I have pretty much given up on them rolling out a firmware update that will correct the issue. The firmware updates automatically, and does not give you an option on whether or not you want to install it.
I had the CyberQ Cloud and it worked great until it didn't. Something went wrong with the probes, I think it was the ports on the controller itself. Likely my fault, I did leave the thing in a high humidity environment.
What I did NOT like about it:
1. Not having some sort of app interface was asine. At this point what can't be controlled by a smartphone? All the app would have to do is auto login to sharemycook.com, that would be fine really.
2. IF the power were to fail then the controller would quit. If it failed overnight that could be a problem. It never happened, but it could have.
3. The interface on sharemycook was....meh. Usable, but not great.
Fireboard had the built in battery, which solves the whole "what if the power fails" issue. I can leave it plugged in and should the power quit the battery takes over. Then it recharges when the power is back. I also like the large LCD display on Fireboard. Also there is an app, which means I do not need to open the web browser then log in to a website then see what is going on.
As for which Fireboard to get, for me it was easy. I was going to use a fan so go with the drive. If you just want a temperature monitor and you know for sure that you will never use a fan, then save a few bucks and get the base model. Just be aware that adding a fan later will cost more because you will need the special cable. By the way, the whole "gotta buy this extra thing sold separately AND a fan if you want this to be a real controller" was why I went with BBQ Guru originally. Include fan support OR call your product a remote thermometer. Pick one.
I decided against the pro model because I get fewer probe ports (although I really do not think I will ever use more than 4 at once), it cost more, and I don't really care if my probes are 2 or 3 degrees off. Do I need 0.5 degree accuracy? Nope. Do I need super high heat resistance? Again no. The standard probes are good to 500+ degrees, if my smoker ever gets that high just pull the probes out, open all the vents, and cremate whatever is left - it is burnt anyway. Make cleanup easier.
Thinking of upgrading to a Fireboard 2 or UltraQ and have some questions…
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