WiFIRE Status Page has been updated (2020-05-20)

[dunawayfamily]

Hi and thanks for your reply. Because my main router is a Verizon and it combines both the 2.4 and 5 ghz signals and auto switches, I knew it would be a problem. So I bought a dual band Comfast access point. It is connected to my primary router/network as a repeater. I can switch my phone wifi over to its 2.4 signal which has internet conn, so I know its functioning. I had my Pro 575 setup and connected to it for about a week and it worked great, then the other day the access point dropped its conn to the network and since resetting that the grill wont reconnect. Have tried recycling power, resetting phone, etc. Each time I try to add a grill it gets to the point after scanning the QR code, then says it cant connect. The access point is only 10 feet from the grill. Driving me nuts. Seems kind of screwed up that most of the issues are with connections and the releases supposedly fix that, but if you cant connect, you cant get the updates. My SW Ver is only 02.00.01 when it should be up to 02.01.02. My config Ver is 04.012 when it should be 04.016. The other question I have is why didnt the grill update when it was connected and running for many hours?

The WiFIRE Controller will connect just fine to the main Verizon Router you have since it only supports 2.4GHz connectivity ... the "challenge" lies in getting the App Device to connect to the same 2.4GHz frequency, and when the 2.4GHz & 5GHz share a common SSID, if the App Device is new(er), it will always default to the preferred connection, which is the faster 5GHz frequency ... when that happens, the App Device cannot communicate 1:1 with the WiFIRE Controller "as needed" during the setup process ... Is the Comfast Access Point extending the same SSID from the Verizon Router, or has it created its own set of SSIDs (one for 2.4GHz and one for 5GHz)?

The Firmware Update to 2.01.02 (May Updates) just went into "wide" release (i.e. all WiFIRE Grill UUIDs registered with the Traeger Cloud back-end) starting on May 19th-20th ... prior to that date, it seems like the March Updates were "targeted" releases, thus only going to a subset of WiFIRE Grill UUIDs (maybe they were doing some data collection / analytics before releasing wide?) ...

 

[dunawayfamily]

The WiFIRE Controller will connect just fine to the main Verizon Router you have since it only supports 2.4GHz connectivity ... the "challenge" lies in getting the App Device to connect to the same 2.4GHz frequency, and when the 2.4GHz & 5GHz share a common SSID, if the App Device is new(er), it will always default to the preferred connection, which is the faster 5GHz frequency ... when that happens, the App Device cannot communicate 1:1 with the WiFIRE Controller "as needed" during the setup process ... Is the Comfast Access Point extending the same SSID from the Verizon Router, or has it created its own set of SSIDs (one for 2.4GHz and one for 5GHz)?

The Firmware Update to 2.01.02 (May Updates) just went into "wide" release (i.e. all WiFIRE Grill UUIDs registered with the Traeger Cloud back-end) starting on May 19th-20th ... prior to that date, it seems like the March Updates were "targeted" releases, thus only going to a subset of WiFIRE Grill UUIDs (maybe they were doing some data collection / analytics before releasing wide?) ...

To add onto this ... if you have an old App Device lying around (iOS / Android) that only supports 2.4GHz connectivity, that would allow you to get through the setup process and get the WiFIRE Controller connected to the Traeger Cloud back-end, and then use your new(er) devices to control/monitor going forward ... The setup phase is the only time you need a 1:1 connection to the WiFIRE Controller ... once WiFIRE is connected to your Home Wi-Fi, the Traeger Cloud back-end handles all communications as a broker between App Device and WiFIRE Controller ...

 

[ChuckM]

No, the Verizon router supports both, but combines the sigs to a single SSID. In my case "Doghouse". The Comfast connects fine to "Doghouse" and creates its own 2 SSIDs, "Doghouse-2G" and "Doghouse-5G". Like I said, the grill was connected and functioning just fine for about a week, but now wont reconnect. C.

 

[ChuckM]

P.S. I can manually make my Android phone connect to just the 2G signal, no problem, so no issue with it using the preferred 5G signal. C.

 

[dunawayfamily]

P.S. I can manually make my Android phone connect to just the 2G signal, no problem, so no issue with it using the preferred 5G signal. C.

So for the sake of completing the setup process ... have you tried the Airplane Mode WORKAROUND (i..e forget all other Home Wi-Fi Networks on your App Device except for the 2.4GHz network)?

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Failed / Hung Setup of WiFIRE | Airplane Mode Workaround

ISSUE: Multiple people have reported that the initial setup of WiFIRE will fail/hang before completion ... this is due to the App device defaulting back to the "preferred" 5GHz Wireless Network after handing off the necessary 2.4GHz Wireless Network information to the Grill (Network Name (SSID), Encryption Type, Password). The App Device MUST reconnect back to the 2.4GHz Home Wireless Network in order for the setup process to successfully complete.

WORKAROUND: The best way to eliminate the failed/hung setup state for WiFIRE is to first put your App Device into Airplane Mode, then manually turn Wi-Fi back on, then "forget" the 5GHz Wi-Fi network, then connect to the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and start the setup process from the beginning ... this eliminates any potential issues with regards to the App Device reconnecting back to the wrong (i.e. 5GHz) Home Wi-Fi Network during the setup process ... once the setup process has successfully completed, you can take the App Device out of Airplane Mode, and reconnect to the 5GHz Wireless network on your App Device (if desired) ...
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So do the WORKAROUND pre-steps (Airplane Mode + Turn Wi-Fi back on + forget Doghouse + forget Doghouse-5G), then connect to Doghouse-2G on your App Device and run the setup process with the WiFIRE Controller connecting it to Doghouse-2G ...

The only other "gotcha" I can see is that the updated Release Notes refer to the following fix in the newer Firmware: Fix character count when decoding SSID ... so special characters may be causing an issue and to simplify things for testing, you may want to try changing to Doghouse 2G (no hyphen) ... I doubt that will make a difference, but if all else fails, its worth trying ...

 

[ChuckM]

Thanks. I will give that a try. C.

 

[rlaverda]

I am really happy now. Roasted a rack of lamb & the temp held at 450. It turned out perfectly! The meat probe worked as well!

 

[dunawayfamily]

I am really happy now. Roasted a rack of lamb & the temp held at 450. It turned out perfectly! The meat probe worked as well!

We will be heavy users of the PRO 780 over the next 3 days ... looking forward to Spatchcock Chicken, Baby Back Ribs, and some Chorizo Queso ...

 

[strollin]

I've had my Pro 575 for about a week now. Yesterday it updated to the latest firmware (02.01.02) and config (4.016) but my grill still maxes out at 450...

I have no problem connecting to the grill via my phone using the WiFire app but the app doesn't keep sync with the grill, it will work for awhile but then will simply stop updating. The only way to get it to start updating again is to close and reopen the app. Are others seeing that as well?

 

[dunawayfamily]

I've had my Pro 575 for about a week now. Yesterday it updated to the latest firmware (02.01.02) and config (4.016) but my grill still maxes out at 450...

I have no problem connecting to the grill via my phone using the WiFire app but the app doesn't keep sync with the grill, it will work for awhile but then will simply stop updating. The only way to get it to start updating again is to close and reopen the app. Are others seeing that as well?

Short answer = YES

The WiFIRE Controller and App Device communicate through the Traeger Cloud back-end exclusively (only exception is during the setup process), so if there are any issues with the connection points between your Home Wi-Fi and the Traeger Cloud back-end, you can expect some intermittent disconnects ... that being said, the App Device does appear to stop receiving updates on the WiFIRE Controller when actively monitoring at random times, requiring an App close/open to get it to refresh/update and stay current until the next time it stops ... on tonight's short grilling session (hour total? I think I had to restart the app 3-4+ times ... it is becoming a "habit" so I'm not sure I'm really keeping track anymore) ... this appears to be an App "issue", or something in the Traeger Cloud back-end that they need to address ...

 

[jombolo]

I'm still on 2.00.01 and 3.007 with my 780 Pro. I also noticed that I cannot wake my grill from sleep mode from the app which seems counter-intuitive. Is everyone's experience the same with that as well?

 

[dunawayfamily]

I'm still on 2.00.01 and 3.007 with my 780 Pro. I also noticed that I cannot wake my grill from sleep mode from the app which seems counter-intuitive. Is everyone's experience the same with that as well?

I would leave the WiFIRE Controller powered on for 24-48 Hours - assuming it is connected to your Home Wi-Fi, it should install the Firmware update, followed by the Config Version update (approximately 12-24 Hours after completing the Firmware update) ... as for the App waking the WiFIRE Controller from Sleep Mode, I need to check - I have my grill connected to an INSTEON On/Off Outdoor Module so that I can Power On/Off without going outside ... will update in a bit ...

 

[dunawayfamily]

I would leave the WiFIRE Controller powered on for 24-48 Hours - assuming it is connected to your Home Wi-Fi, it should install the Firmware update, followed by the Config Version update (approximately 12-24 Hours after completing the Firmware update) ... as for the App waking the WiFIRE Controller from Sleep Mode, I need to check - I have my grill connected to an INSTEON On/Off Outdoor Module so that I can Power On/Off without going outside ... will update in a bit ...

The WiFIRE Controller will be in Sleeping Mode (with a Green Light) when it is not actively IGNITE'd and operating ... the Green Light is the important part, as that shows it is actively connected to your Home Wi-Fi and able to communicate to the Traeger Cloud back-end ...

 

[jombolo]

I would leave the WiFIRE Controller powered on for 24-48 Hours - assuming it is connected to your Home Wi-Fi, it should install the Firmware update, followed by the Config Version update (approximately 12-24 Hours after completing the Firmware update) ... as for the App waking the WiFIRE Controller from Sleep Mode, I need to check - I have my grill connected to an INSTEON On/Off Outdoor Module so that I can Power On/Off without going outside ... will update in a bit ...

I have had my Traeger for about a month and have left the rear power button in the on position since I bought it in hopes it would update, with no luck it seems. What is the Insteon switch you’re using?

 

[dunawayfamily]

I have had my Traeger for about a month and have left the rear power button in the on position since I bought it in hopes it would update, with no luck it seems. What is the Insteon switch you’re using?

The May Update release went live around the 19th, so if it has been powered on continually since then, it is strange that it has not been targeted by the Traeger Cloud back-end for a PUSH update ... you may want to contact support with your Grill UUID value and have them see if it is being flagged/blocked for any reason ...

INSTEON products are primarily sold through Smarthome.com ... they have "bundles" available on occasion where you can get a Hub Controller and other items at a really good discount ... they will probably run another special around July 4th ... I have quite a few INSTEON devices - Open/Close on doors & windows, On/Off Outdoor Modules on Traeger & LED String Lights & Holiday Lights (when applicable), On/Off & Dimming Switches in multiple rooms throughout the house, Leak Detectors, Siren, etc.

INSTEON Hub Central Controller

Insteon Hub Central Controller

Use this Insteon hub to provide lighting, appliance, and temperature control. This IOS or Android smartphone remote provides a smart home automation system.

www.smarthome.com

INSTEON Remote Control Plug-in On/Off Module, Outdoor

Insteon Remote Control Plug-in On/Off Module, Outdoor

Use this weather resistant Outdoor Automation Module to conveniently control your outdoor lights or appliances with a remote controller.

www.smarthome.com

Another option is to look at the Monoprice STITCH Outdoor offering as it is a standalone Wi-Fi based solution that offers separate controls for the 2 plugs (they are currently out-of-stock - going to pick a couple up to test out once they are back in stock):

Products no longer Available