just got a maverick redi-check smoker thermometer since my digital temp went haywire once. I have a few issues and was wonder if any one else had problems .
My distance of reception as we say here in da nort country SUCKS .. supposed to operate to 100 feet .
I get consistace operation from 1-25 feet ... intermediate operation from 25-50 feet .. and nothing past there . which means with my smoker in the garage I have reception to the spare bedroom ..... but none at my recliner in the living room with the beer on the table ...........I am planing on calling them on monday . was just wondering if there were other issues . I even swapped out their CHEAP heavy duty batteries which came with the unit for some rechargables NO CHANGE ........... thanks :-\
Greetings headgames, you are on the right path calling them. Good company. I have a 72 and a 73 and no distance issues on my units. Gizmo has reported interference from various wireless devices at his home which may be something to look at...
There is a thread here on modifications people have made to increase range and will try to find it for you.
In CA we live in Faraday cages with wire wrap and stucco siding but again no issues for me. Sorry not much help. I will look for the modification thread.
Headgames, link below has good discussion. -
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=4712.msg42104#msg42104
thanks WCK after I call them on monday I may operate ..... lol ... my kind of thing to do . later
The problem with the true reception distance of the ET-73 has been a topic of this forum on a few threads. If there is no manufacturer's defect you may have to either modify it, or keep moving the receiver around until you get good reception. As mentioned on other threads; there are several obstacles that could be interfering with your radio signal. Thickness and the materials of the walls the signal needs to travel through, kitchen appliances or computer nearby the receiver can cause problems, 2.4GHz portable phones etc. If your neighbors have wireless equipment, that could also cause a problem. It would have been nice if Maverick gave us the option to change channels, but I'm sure that would up the price of the product.
There were places in my home that the receiver would not pick up a signal. I found that as long as it was in a location where I could hear the alarm from all areas of the house (or at least the area I spent most of my time), that worked out fine.
thanks Hab ...... will play some more in other areas :)
I have a Taylor one that is supposed to get 100 feet too, it doesn't though. I am like you headgames can't get it to work in the house from garage >:( I was thinking of maybe getting one of those baby monitors and trying it, if I could find a cheap one. I figure you could at least hear the alarm go off on the thermometer then. I think they have video ones now too, but I bet they might be a bit expnesive.
Mark
Yeah lot's of factors to be taken into account i think, it seems some Mavericks work better than others.
Very handy piece of kit to compliment the BS, i like the fact that you can monitor temps without opening the cabinet door.
Mine had very limited range, so after i'd plucked up the courage to mod it, i was very happy to see a huge improvement.
I can have my BS in the garage, and monitor from any room in the house since doing the mod, so i'm a happy chappy! ;D
Even unmodded though, i couldn't be without mine ;)
LilSmoker(http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Tip-Hat.gif)
My ET-73 has lousy range as well. Even going twenty feet is tough on it. I usually sit my reciever on the window sill right next to the BS. At least I can see the temps whil in my kitchen. I had wanted to have it on my beadside table so I could check it in the night.
I have been eying the modifications as recomended on this site, but do not yet have the courage.
Quote from: MRH on April 01, 2007, 08:22:40 AM
I have a Taylor one that is supposed to get 100 feet too, it doesn't though. I am like you headgames can't get it to work in the house from garage >:( I was thinking of maybe getting one of those baby monitors and trying it, if I could find a cheap one. I figure you could at least hear the alarm go off on the thermometer then. I think they have video ones now too, but I bet they might be a bit expnesive.
Mark
Baby monitors work fine. A family member gave me hers, and I often use it to monitor my Raptor/Guru. Intercoms that use existing electrical wiring, should work also.
The on/off switch on the Maverick is very delicate as well. Even after reading the warnings here and being carefull (apparently not careful enough) I appear to have broken the little black piece that sticks up. I have to use a small jewlers screw driver to reach into the opening to slide the base of the swith to the on or off position.
headgames,
I personally think all wireless devices tend to overstate their range. I have several, including the ET-73. Through the garage and walls, I rarely get more than 30 feet.
Arcs_n_Sparks
I am good to all corners of our house. But then this is a CA sized lot and it is a one level ranch type. :)
I too thought I broke my on off switch but it is the black part that sticks out and I use something to slide it... works. I also cut a slot in the back side of the other unit so it is easy to get to the other on off switch. ;)
I put the smoker in front of a bay type window at the kitchen sink and the remote in the bedroom. No issues. I have however tossed my wireless router = junk no matter what... ;D
I thought I was having problems with mine getting even 20 feet, open line of sight, but I wasn't hooking up the box probe as I was using the oven and only needed the meat temp. This weekend, I hooked up both probes and it worked fine. Have not tried in the smoker yet, but I'm thinking I should be okay.
I think "line of site" is the key phrase with these things. Trying to transmit through walls and such is probably a bit much to ask for these low power unlicensed transmitters.
Spoke with customer service today ........... they said ship it to us and they would figure out the problem or replace it .......... thinking I will ship it . and let you all know ... thanks
Yes please let us know how the exchange unit performs, apparently some have an internal wire
antenna as well as a printed circuit antenna?, if so this would explain why some have range issues.
Lot's of things to be considered i suppose, signal interference, blocked signal, electrical equipment etc, then just like everything else there's always gonna be a few "lemons".
Anyway hope the new one works for you, if not you have the option of surgery! :o ;D
even if I get it back and it works well I may still perform surgery. ;D just to make sure I have the optimum distance.......... In case I want to drive 3 miles down the road to get more beverages and want to know my box temp from the store ........lol mailed it out on monday .. time will tell :)
so what are the surgical options to extend the lenght? how about taping into the signal for those remote temperature gauges. those have some real good range. I wonder if there can be a bypass from the reading in the Mav to the transmit on one of those wireless transmitters.
Any other ideas?
IKW: I did the mod, by soldering in an additional antenna wire, i cut the wire exactly 6-1/2 inches from the point of solder, and fitted a small antenna mast, i was nervous of doing the mod, as the Mavericks are not available in the u.k., but i'm glad i did it now, big difference for me.
Anyway, in case you didn't see it, here's the mod:
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=4712.0
LilSmoker ;)
Thanks I missed that. I will take a look.
wow great link and found a great explanation here it is the quote of Troy Reitz
Hi,
I have been in the electronics field for 25 yrs, and a WSM cooker for 1 year and Love it!
I can answer some of the questions I have seen posted on the Mavrick modification.
The Mavrick's wireless signal is 433mhz.
The wire modification on this forum is a 1/4 wave length wire antenna.
1.) Yes the wire length is critical!
The length of wire for 433mhz is 17cm (6.7 in) so 6.5inches is close.
2.) The wire size should be 22 awg or larger.
Wire size of 14 awg will work but is a little large. I would be afraid it would put stress on the circuit board and may crack it. I think a wire size of 18 to 22 awg is fine.
3.) The antenna wire should leave the circuit board at 90 degrees like this __|__. If you put a bend in the wire it add impedence the more impedence is added you can have a drop in signal gain. I belive for the purpose of this mod it will not effect the overall signal.
4.) A loop in the wire will not get the signal gain you are looking for. The loop has to be at a perfect size and wraps! Even then the signal will be semi directional and not Omni directional (360 degrees).
5.) soldering the wire is a must. if you layed it on the trace and did not solder it. two things could happen. it could slip and short the output amplifier to the antenna or over time do to the copper it will oxidize and no longer make ample connection to the antenna trace.
I actually peformed the modification on both the Transmitter and Recievers. I am now able to sit in the house from my couch watching TV with a cold beer in my hand and occassionally looking at the timer!
Hope this answers a few of the questions?
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f51/headgames38/somegeek_maverick_mod.jpg)
the pic is by a Hains Lain with this description
I went ahead and did this mod on my Maverick. Last night I was having trouble getting updates in my office from the porch. After installing this 6.5" antenna, I'm good to go!
Used a piece of 18AWG stranded wire. Tinned the three pads and then tinned the exposed wire cut in length to fit across all three pads. Pre-formed my wire to fit out through a cut out in the side of the case. To solder you set the tinned wire on the tinned pads. Press your soldering iron down on the tinned wire and it will heat the solder to melt the tinned pads
thanks for the link LilSmoker .......... ;D
You're welcome headgames, i actually did the mod, i only did the receiver which did the trick for me, my Maverick now works in any room of the house, even with the BS in my garage.
If only Maverick would put an external antenna on the ET-73's it would make a great product perfect imo ;)
Got my mavrick back today .about a 10 day turnaround . not bad. they sent a whole new one . I gained about 25 feet ............. now I am operable at 50 feet ............... next step ....... MODIFICATIONS >>>>>>>>>.. lol
gonna install the wire antenna.......... with fingers crossed . will let you know the improvement ........ I only need another 12 feet to my lazzzzzzzy boy chair and 25 feet to the night stand by the bed . ;D
I have to prop mine in the bathroom window that over looks my garage in order to maintain connectivity. I am in the wireless business so I MUST do this MOD or I will be ridiculed by my peers for this inadequacy!
anyway to make the photos larger and exactly where you place the wire to solder it. sorry i blind ;D
nepas
do you think that a small antenna wire from a remote control truck would work? I have a few from when i used to race em.
nepas
Hi Nepas, there are 2 versions of the mod, some just solder the wire here and get great results:
(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/Gitster59/mav1.jpg)
That didn't get the required result for me, maybe i didn't solder it very good?, anyway here's the second method, just solder the wire across these 2-3 terminals, that did the trick for me:
(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/Gitster59/mav7.jpg)
Btw, you can use RC antenna wire, that's what i used, and i used an RC antenna mast also to keep it neat.
If anybody wants the link of how i did the mod it's here, which also links to the forum where the original mod came from:
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=4712.0
If you do the mod, take extra care when seperating the 2 halves of the case, as the on/off switch is very delicate, apart from that, the mod is very easy to do.
LilSmoker(http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Tip-Hat.gif)
WOW thats what I like . just ask and you receive here NePa you wanted a larger pic . HOW DO YOU LIKE THESE THANKS A TON LILSMOKER I could not see crap in the other ones either but was too proud to ask . lol
Looks like I'm gonna have to perform surgery too. Tried with the smoker over the weekend, and couldn't get the signal from the smoker through the vynil siding to even the top of the fridge less than 20 feet from the smoker...not to mention to my chair about 30 feet away through another wall.
Quote from: headgames on April 19, 2007, 05:38:28 AM
WOW thats what I like . just ask and you receive here NePa you wanted a larger pic . HOW DO YOU LIKE THESE THANKS A TON LILSMOKER I could not see crap in the other ones either but was too proud to ask . lol
Thanks Lil
And headgames <.....................................you funny :D :D :D
nepas
HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP
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only thing I can say is WOW ! did my mod today and I have at least 125 feet .......... all the way to the other side of the bed room ........ I even get reception at the porcelin throne ..... lol
thanks to any one and everyone who had their input iN to the antenna mod ..... I now have a usable piece of equipment ....................... currently trYing to get my TS controller to cut out like it does during a smoke ........ now that I can monitor the smoker box temp and the temp inside of my control box . but thats another post . thanks again .
Quote from: headgames on April 24, 2007, 02:58:27 PM
I even get reception at the porcelin throne ..... lol
Now all you have to do is move the adult fridge next to the throne and there is no reason to leave unless the alarm goes off and it is time to eat. (BTW, TV tray can get you right back to the throne zone, no energy lost there.) :D
lol ............. did you ever see the ultimate male bathroom they were giving away at rotorooter.com . it was perfect .........except there was no smoker . lol
http://www.rotorooter.com/john/ (http://www.rotorooter.com/john/) ;D
No but if you finish the keg in one sitting, you'll forget (pass out) about hunger.
:D :D :D smoker in the bathroom . . . already an exhaust fan in there ??? HUUUuuummmm ;D NePa ya ready ;)