Howdy, fired up the BGE yesterday (I KNOW it is not a smoker) to do some ribs. Connected my Flame Boss 400 that has been like STEEL, and of course, it failed, Will NOT connect to my WiFi which is really strong. Contacted FB service, no help. What is the best WiFi controller for BGE's, have had FB for YEARS, they always worked great, until they did not, DAMN.

Thanks!

Mark Fairchild said:

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Howdy, fired up the BGE yesterday (I KNOW it is not a smoker) to do some ribs. Connected my Flame Boss 400 that has been like STEEL, and of course, it failed, Will NOT connect to my WiFi which is really strong. Contacted FB service, no help. What is the best WiFi controller for BGE's, have had FB for YEARS, they always worked great, until they did not, DAMN.

Thanks!

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Just tried the chefstemp plus 2 and returned it after one cook, was horrible. Ambient temp sensors don't work l close to the meat. S1 might work fine, but there was issues with the wireless temp probes not getting signal. Wired probes likely still more reliable at this point. Ordered a fireboard 2 drive and pit viper fan, will let you know how it is after this weekend.

UltraQ is the only controller I run on my BGE. Works flawlessly. Great WiFi and Bluetooth features. Fan controller. Handles 4 different meat probes.

https://www.bbqguru.com/product/ultraq/

I use thermoworks signal controller and billows. Works greaat

ThermoWorks billows and signals work like a charm.

FireBoard 2 with the pit viper fan is fantastic. Been using it for years

I use a bbq guru digiq

I've used a DigiQ2 for years. It's not Wi-Fi and that's fine for me. If I needed a wifi probe I have a thermoworks probe as a separate device.

I have an egg genius that hasnt failed me in several years and ive been pretty rough with it

Man, I just bump the little thingy on the top and bottom until it hits, then I sit back and drink beer outside.

It's a 15+ yr old Vision, Egg knockoff I got from a hardware store. Still going strong. Cooks a little hot (rarely dips below 275-285), but once it's dialed in, it just holds and holds for hours. I have an old, dual probe thermometer, but honestly I rarely use it anymore and I'm so used to how long it takes to get up to temp, how long it holds, etc. Then I use a thermapen to check meat temps and consistency.

A vote for the Fireboard with a fan. I'm still using the original Fireboard controller I believe I got it in 2019, it runs Bluetooth if you're close by, and also on WiFi so you can leave the house and still control things. I would like a newer one, but they don't do anything more than the original one, they just have a nicer screen.

Howdy and Thanks for all the replies, am trying to keep my cost down, do not use the BGE that much anymore so trying to avoid $4-500 in expense. Anyone try the INKBIRD Automatic Smoker Fan on Amazon for $169? Cannot really seem to find out much about it. Read the Amazon reviews and they have mixed in a bunch of reviews of a completely different product, a laser temp gun, not the BBQ control, so difficult to know if this thing works, still hate having to by from China.

I used the Inkbird before I got the Fireboard. There were no replacement probes so when you ran out of probes you had to buy another. I haven't tried but I think the Fireboard probes could go in the dishwasher, they eventually wear out, but it takes a few years of abuse.

I didn't get the fan with the Fireboard initially, I got a pellet smoker at some point and used the Fireboard instead of the built in controller to adjust it to where I wanted it to run. During the 2021 winter storm a limb off an oak tree fell on the pellet smoker and it wasn't salvageable. Adding a fan to the old Weber Smokey Mountain was the cheap fix. It literally runs the smoker more at more stable temps than the oven.

Being able to get stuff the exact temp you want makes a huge difference inside the house and out.

I have always used flameboss for overnight cooks for briskets and pork butts. For ribs. I just close down the top almost all the way and the bottom to about 1/4 inch open. It will normally keep about 250 depending on wind and stuff like that. If you have the flameboss 500, you do not need WiFi because you can just set it on the controller interface itself.

BlueSmoke said:

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Man, I just bump the little thingy on the top and bottom until it hits, then I sit back and drink beer outside.

It's a 15+ yr old Vision, Egg knockoff I got from a hardware store. Still going strong. Cooks a little hot (rarely dips below 275-285), but once it's dialed in, it just holds and holds for hours. I have an old, dual probe thermometer, but honestly I rarely use it anymore and I'm so used to how long it takes to get up to temp, how long it holds, etc. Then I use a thermapen to check meat temps and consistency.

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Yeah I can get mine dialed in too. But for long cookd the controller makes it an oven. It can keep it going for hours.

I have a digiQ that is still going strong after about 8 years or so. I only use it for brisket cooks. Not necessary for a rib cook IMO.