Traeger buys wireless thermometer company Meater

[JamesB]

Yoder seemed to figure it out = use the FireBoard to control the grill.

Traeger should spend more time reading here

Maybe they do, and maybe Yoder has some kind of exclusive deal with FireBoard.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

Meater was one of the systems I considered before buying FireBoard. Knowing something about WiFi, it is very difficult for signals to travel through metal enclosures, and I ruled out Meater for this reason alone. The other one is of course keeping the probes charged. Traeger will have to solve these issues if they hope to have people buy Meater. I see two possible approaches for the WiFi issue:

1. Meater could develop a wired system to compete with FireBoard and Thermoworks. The only unique aspect would be close integration with the Traeger controller.

2. Traeger could begin adding a glass window to the grill lids. They would advertise it as an observation window, but another purpose is as a WiFi window. Green Mountain Grills has windows on some of their grills:

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Not sure what the solution is for charge on the probes. They could suggest that we get multiple probes and swap them in the middle of a long cook, such as during wrapping.

 

[Timmy]

Maybe they do, and maybe Yoder has some kind of exclusive deal with FireBoard.

Yoder and FireBoard are both companies in Kansas or Kansas City, so they can work closely to manufacture a quality product and integrate the temperature tech into a smoker more easily than 2 companies far from each other, and both are produced in the States.

What would be neat is if Yoder or FireBoard would produce a controller the would fit a Traeger, or add auger control to the FireBoard.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[RemE]

Yoder and FireBoard are both companies in Kansas or Kansas City, so they can work closely to manufacture a quality product and integrate the temperature tech into a smoker more easily than 2 companies far from each other, and both are produced in the States.

What would be neat is if Yoder or FireBoard would produce a controller the would fit a Traeger, or add auger control to the FireBoard.

Just my 2 cents.

Agree completely, Fireboard could go it alone, many folks would spring for the upgrade!

 

[MidwestSmoker]

Agree completely, Fireboard could go it alone, many folks would spring for the upgrade!

I wouldn't be surprised if many companies already tried to buy FireBoard (Weber, Yoder, Traeger, .....). I think they have made the decision to be independent so that they can stay focused for now. Not sure if they can remain that way in the future.

 

[Slimpicker]

many folks would spring for the upgrade!

I already did, it's my FireBoard,

 

[Okskipper]

I guess I am one of the few on here that has had good luck with our Meater. Amazon has over 13,000 reviews for the Meater Plus (what we have) with an average of 4.6 out of 5, so others must like it.

We purchased it to use with our small Weber grill on our motor coach. I once got a notice on the phone app that the ambient temperature was getting too high and opened the grill to let it cool down a bit, but I suspect the internal temp was over 600 degrees.

One thing that you have to do with the Meater is to have the charger/case close to the grill so it can communicate with the probe. Otherwise, you will lose the connection. I learned that the first time we used it as I left the charger/case inside. Once I brought the case down by the grill, we never lost connection again.

You also need to replace the probe in the case when you are finished so it keeps the batteries charged.

We also have a Thermapen MK4 that we use at home and love it.

 

[RemE]

I'm sure they work fine, my engineer head can't accept putting lithiums which hate heat, in the fire. Not to mention the radio and other circuitry. You still need a charger/repeater, all to save a little wire. And after a few years I wonder how they fair. Not to mention the physical size of the spike, I mean probe.

But that's just my opinion.