A Sad End to an Era

[Jim White]

Okay, my order has been placed. I got the Fireboard 2 Pro and its magnetic base.

The CyberMonday deal got enhanced to go two free competition probes, three probe pouches and a pair of sunglasses. I called and asked what they could do about the competition probes not working on this unit and they said to put into the notes while ordering that I want to trade those two for one Type K meat probe. Two for one is fine, since these are more expensive probes and that now gives me a backup meat probe.

I will wait until I've done a cook or two with the new controller and old fan before deciding to move to a bigger fan.

[Jim White]

Ha ha. Glad to be of service, Donw !

I had to laugh when the first option on the pull-down menu for "How did you hear about us?" was AmazingRibs.com.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

That's a fair deal, hope you enjoy it!

[fzxdoc]

I'm glad I missed this post until now. I spent enough on new shoes and a new trenchcoat at the BF sales. Priorities, dontcha know.

K.

[jfmorris]

I'm kinda trying to move the other way, and use my fan less, and here you are telling me I need to use it more!

I'm replacing all the seals on my SNS Kamado next time it will be above 50 for a couple of days for the adhesives and RTV and stuff to work well, and then learning all the vents again from scratch, after being reliant on my BBQ Guru PartyQ on both kettle and kamado.

I actually have two PartyQ's - thanks to Steve R. hooking me up with a second one. Which was timely, as two weeks ago, I *DROPPED* my original PartyQ and the LCD screen shattered, leaving only the bottom 1/4 of each temp digit readable. I figure I can use it if I run it all the way down, then back up one degree at a time until I get to 250, then leave it there...

I'm up in the air as to whether I'll go with a Fireboard2 or a Signals or something similar at some point down the road. Thermoworks has given me such good customer service over the years I almost feel like I need to at least consider the Signals+Billows when the time comes for something better than my Smoke. Or the Weber Connect which is also a wifi/BT thermometer with 4 inputs...

[Jim White]

Hooray! My new Fireboard 2 Pro arrived this afternoon. This device feels so much more substantial than the UltraQ and I love the way it fits into its magnetic base. It puts the display at a really readable angle.

They came through like champs and the Cyber Monday bonuses were there. I had forgotten that they were throwing in a free bottle of rub. They did swap the two competition probes for one Type K, as promised. The sunglasses are really cool, with wooden earpieces. Since I wear my progressive trifocals all the time, Lisa snagged the sunglasses. And the probe pouches are interesting. I know Greg said he gave his away and stayed with ThermoWorks spools, but I'll give the pouches a try for a while.

First cook will be Saturday morning. I'm making a pot of chili for the Chili Lunch at our church Sunday. I'll put on a chuck roast and take it to 160 or so. Can't wait!

In fact, I didn't wait to turn it on. The app is entirely intuitive and the WiFi connected on the very first try.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

my only issue with the pouches is with the K probe just kinda hangs out. With the spool I can tuck them in the bottom, obviously the spools take up WAY more drawer space. The pouches were really nice for the old RCA jack probes, but I moved to the fireboard and new MAK controller specifically so I had one universal probe type in the house.

[Jim White]

And the new era is off to a great start! First cook using the new Fireboard 2 Pro went beautifully. Also, because I was so excited to check info on the app and on the website graph, I wound up doing the perfect experiment that demonstrated that my 10cfm fan is indeed large enough for the cooker.

As stated above, today was a quick smoke on a chuck roast that is going into some chili. I chose 275 as the fire setpoint and wanted to cook the chuck to 165. Here's the graph of the completed cook:



As you can see, at the very beginning, the grate temperature spike up to 325 even though I set the target at 275. Once it got that high, I finally went out to the porch to see what was up, only to find I had left the door to the firebox completely open! There was a raging fire in the lump.

I just closed the door and came back in to watch what would happen to the temperature and how the Fireboard would respond. Because the Fireboard software also will add the fan speed to the chart, you can see that the fan just stood by and waited for the temperature to drift back into range. Then the fan started kicking in now and then to bring the temperature back up to 275. The fan mostly stayed below 50% speed. It didn't have to run steadily. You can see the fan use came in bursts, presumably as the fire needed to jump a gap or two between pieces of lump.

So in the end, the new controller worked perfectly and I'm already a convert.

[smokenoob]

what are the green sharp spikes at the bottom?

[Jim White]

smokenoob That's the fan kicking on briefly to keep the cooking temp at the set point.

[NumbWhistle]

Would it be possible for you to post a picture of your setup with the Fireboard and fan on the LSG? As a new adjustable owner, I want to learn the pit without a fan first, but eventually will likely want a fan setup for occasional convenience.

Thanks!

[Jim White]

NumbWhistle Sorry it took so long to get back to you, it's just that hectic time of year.

Here's the back view of the cooker, showing the hole that LSG pre-drilled. Adapters are available both from LSG and from BBQ Guru, whose fan I'm still using. I chose to just use brass adapters off the shelf from Lowes and had to put two of them together to make the transition to the tubing coming out of the fan. The hole is on the lower part of the fire box that is on the left as you face the front of the cooker.



Here is the cook of the beef back ribs recently, with the probe wires a bit disorganized because I was moving quickly.



You can see the pit probe and the two meat probes plugging into the base of the FireBoard unit, using the yellow connecters. The cable sneaking around the back side of the FireBoard from the left to plug into the right side of the unit is the cord that powers the fan. You see it coming out of the top of the fan in the top picture.

And here's a bonus funny one. This is a cook of country style ribs. It was the first cook after replacing the gasket on the lid.



The probes are not plugged into the FireBoard yet, but after I plugged them in, I thought for a while that I was having trouble with the FireBoard. It didn't want to let me input a grate temperature for the control target. The problem was that we had wheeled the cooker out of its very snug spot in order to access all of the lid for removing the old gasket and installing the new one. We had tucked the fan plug wire onto the back of the shelf below the fan and I completely forgot to dig it out before starting this cook. I had to lift myself up onto the stainless corner unit on the left, reach behind the hot cooker, grab the wire and toss it across to the right corner unit. Luckily, it landed in a good spot on the first try and I was able to plug the fan in and then proceed normally.

The other thing to note in this last photo is the small window fan that I use to pull the smoke from the exhaust vent out through the screen. It works great, partly because, as you see, once this thing gets the fire established in some good lump charcoal, very little smoke is made (and with a good gasket, it only comes out through the exhaust vent).

[NumbWhistle]

No worries at all. Thank you for the thorough rundown of your setup. It is very impressive! This makes me even happier with my wife’s gift of this cooker!

[Jim White]

Well, then. I just got an email from BBQ Guru. Here it is:

Update for UltraQ and CyberQ Cloud Owners

Since acquiring BBQ Guru in 2022, Collins Research has been working to improve the reliability, features, and user experience of our connected controllers, specifically the UltraQ. This has now been accomplished. Necessary steps in this long process included the rebuild of the Share My Cook Website, app re-development, and service migration to a new cloud. As an UltraQ user, you will realize vast improvements in connectivity, overall function, and user experience. CyberQ Cloud users will also be able to access the new service platforms. Because ShareMyCook.com had to be redesigned, one unfortunate result is the loss of some saved cook data and recipes for those of you using this feature. We do apologize for this, but it was a necessary step with the UltraQ functional corrections as a priority. While we may have been unable to retain all of your saved cook data, a return of the recipes is being considered for a future release. We thank you for your patience and realize this has been a long time coming, as many UltraQ owners have had a difficult user experience. The UltraQ is an exceptional temperature controller that was originally paired with a less than exceptional connected experience. Both now live up to the standard at Collins Research and we are confident that you will agree. To launch your fresh start, please remember to uninstall the BBQ Guru app. and install the newest version, out now.

A little late in my case, since I love my FireBoard setup so much. But I did go over to ShareMyCook to see if any of my saved cooks survived the purge. My password no longer works. I'll mess around with it a bit more tomorrow to see if have to start over with a new account (they didn't say this was necessary in the email, though). Perhaps some data survived tied to the email I use in the login process? Doubtful with their track record. Sure would have been nice if they had given some warning about the data purge.

[Christobol]

Well, then. I just got an email from BBQ Guru. Here it is:


A little late in my case, since I love my FireBoard setup so much. But I did go over to ShareMyCook to see if any of my saved cooks survived the purge. My password no longer works. I'll mess around with it a bit more tomorrow to see if have to start over with a new account (they didn't say this was necessary in the email, though). Perhaps some data survived tied to the email I use in the login process? Doubtful with their track record. Sure would have been nice if they had given some warning about the data purge.

So... another holiday failure of BBQ Guru. Over labor day I tried to use my UltraQ and the app demanded I update the firmware and yet kept failing. This went on for 2 days. Later I called them and they said they would try to do it in house with an android phone. I was lazy and after 2 months I decided to see if I could update it, and it worked.

Now today the new sharemycook.com site won't work. For the first part of the day it was simply unreachable, as if the web server was turned off. Now it's up, but my login doesn't work. When you setup a new account, it doesn't like a lot of email addresses. I finally found one that works, and I'm able to log on via the website, but using the phone app fails.

It's really sad what has happened to BBQ Guru. So I'm sure I'll look at a FB2 as well.

[Mosca]

So... another holiday failure of BBQ Guru. Over labor day I tried to use my UltraQ and the app demanded I update the firmware and yet kept failing. This went on for 2 days. Later I called them and they said they would try to do it in house with an android phone. I was lazy and after 2 months I decided to see if I could update it, and it worked.

Now today the new sharemycook.com site won't work. For the first part of the day it was simply unreachable, as if the web server was turned off. Now it's up, but my login doesn't work. When you setup a new account, it doesn't like a lot of email addresses. I finally found one that works, and I'm able to log on via the website, but using the phone app fails.

It's really sad what has happened to BBQ Guru. So I'm sure I'll look at a FB2 as well.

From BBQ Guru:

The data center is still down but have enabled a new cloud that is up and running in a new data center. However, it has no prior data yet. We wanted to get it up for new users ASAP. So if you want to use the cloud before the migration is complete, you have to sign up again and add your device again, and we'll migrate your old data into your account after the outage if you use the same email address.
This was an unexpected and disappointing situation for us as well, to say the least. Our sincerest apologies. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Im glad I kept both my DigiQs!

[jfmorris]

It’s sad to see one of the companies that pioneered thermostatic controllers for grills fail so miserably not just once, but on multiple occasions.

[STEbbq]

Agreed. You’d think they’d be especially sensitive to fixing and making changes around a major cooking holiday like Christmas.

[jfmorris]

STEbbq yeah - dicking with insufficiently tested software and rolling it out around major cooking events like the holidays is simply stupid.

[BoomerSooner]

Get the Fireboard. You'll never regret it. Not only is it a solid piece of equipment, the ability to chart (and photograph) your cooks is a huge timesaver from keeping a handwritten journal. Plus your cooks are easily searchable. I love that feature. Before that, I was writing each cook up in Microsoft Word table form .

I reference my previous cook logs all the time; even if I know how to cook something, like say a brisket or chicken, sometimes I put little notes about the prep/rub/ etc. in the Fireboard log that comes in handy the next time I'm doing it, or if someone here asks about cook times, etc. it's easy to reference the Fireboard log.

Plus Fireboard has those short skinny Competition probes that are great for fish, BS Chicken, or
ribs.

Kathryn

P.S. I don't have their fan; I have a Pit Viper instead. I like the round opening on the Pit Viper. but you do you, as the kids used to say.

Kathryn (and anyone else using a Pit Viper fan) do you use the damper on the fan or just leave it fully open? Also, does the Fireboard Drive adjust the fan's actual speed or just turn the fan on or off to control the temperature? If you do use the damper on the Pit Viper, please let me know when you decide to use it along with how much you close it. TIA for your feedback.

[Jim White]

I never touch the damper. The FireBoard (and BBQ Guru devices) adjust the duty cycle of the fan rather than its speed. It can increase, but not decrease, the pit temperature.

[KimO]

I keep the damper off on the Pit Viper. As Jim White says, I can always increase the temperature with the fan, but not decrease. I get the smoker settled in at about 220*, then turn the Fireboard/Viper on and let them manage the temperature from there. I usually smoke at 225*.

[fzxdoc]

What Kim and Jim said. I leave the damper setting fully open and let the Fireboard drive cable/connection have its way with the Pit Viper's duty cycle. With the Fireboard Drive+Pit Viper fan, I do a 15-10 lighting procedure.

K.

[FireMan]

Sorry fer yer loss & sorry fer yer trouble. 😿

Hope things work out fer ya.

[BuffaloWolff]

Yeah.... this Xmass was it for me with BBQ guru. My UltraQ pit probe port failed (with multiple probes). I fell back to my old cyberq to find that control via the web was disabled, then an hour or so in to my prime rib cook the web service went down. Fireboard 2 Pro on its way :-), glad I had a meater as a backup remote option.

[BuffaloWolff]

Just to follow up, my fireboard 2 came and I ran a quick cook on it last night. Can't comment on long term temp stability or anything else, but the user experience was immediately so much better than with the UltraQ. No holding your breath to hope it connects to the cloud (and thus works with the app and the webpage......). It just worked., Showed up in the app a few seconds after being turned on, and alerts and programs were super easy to use. I also got the Spark thermometer which is kinda cool. Anywho, buhby bbq guru, I was with you from the beginning, but you fell behind the times.

[Mosca]

Well, I got up at 4:30 this morning to start a brisket, and of course I’d forgotten completely about this topic. I hooked up my CyberQ, went to “ShareMyCook”, and of course nothing knew nobody about anything, just as described….

I poked around and found their workaround, which lets me monitor the cook remotely. The new display is actually much better than the old one:




But one key piece is missing: the ability to control the unit from the app! So if I want to adjust the temp, turn on an alarm, shut it down, etc., I have to do it from the controller itself.

As you can see, the unit works perfectly, holding a rock-solid 262° (250° is too low for when I want it done, and 275° is too high).

So for me, holding in hand a DigiQ DX2, DigiQ DX3, and a CyberQ, is it worth $300 (give or take) for remote access to the functionality, given that 1) I’m retired, and home almost all the time during cooks, and 2) kamados generally rock solid run for hours without any controller at all?

Nah. I’m a little ticked off by it, but the digital age has inured me somewhat to cyberobsolescence. It’s unrealistic to expect a small company to support a legacy product in perpetuity. It works, I’m here, and the world is beautiful.

[jfmorris]

I wish the Smobot would work for me, but sadly, after contacting them, the SNS Kamado Gen1 has such a non standard (extra large) top chimney that nothing Smobot makes would fit it. I'm having the same issue trying to find a rain proof top vent....

What camera can you not find a battery for? I have an old Nikon DSLR I am still using, and while I could not find a new Nikon battery for it a year or two ago, I was able to find a 3rd party battery that seems to be working fine.

[Mosca]

It’s an Olympus OM-D E-M5. I can still sort of use it, if I leave it on. If I turn it off, or if the main battery dies, it resets itself. I also have two older Canons, a 40D and a 7D. Both of those I’ve replaced the internal battery, it was right inside the main battery slot. I looked up replacing the battery in the Oly; it’s a common problem evidently. It would cost several hundred $$ to get someone to do it; you have to remove a circuit board, get out the soldering iron, etc. Bah.

[jfmorris]

Ah! So it has the removable battery pack AND an internal battery. And loses any custom settings plus the date/time if you swap main battery packs?

I guess I am lucky my antique Nikon D40 apparently stores all settings in flash memory. The only thing I lose when swapping the main battery pack is date/time, even if the battery is out or dead for months.

I really just started using the Nikon DSLR again recently with the advent of grandkids...