Do wireless smoker thermometers work?

[Hank Hanover]

I am considering buying a wireless thermometer similar to the one here. http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-RediCh...

You are supposed to be able to insert the probe into the meat and carry the receiver around the house with you. When the meat gets to the preset temperature, an alarm goes off....very convenient.

I have a metal smoker. The probe would be completely surrounded by metal. Would the receiver actually be able to communicate with the probe under such circumstances?

I wouldn't think so.

Has anyone out there used one of these remote thermometers. Is my concern baseless?

[Hank Hanover]

Sorry for the post folks. I appear to have found the answer.

Apparently, the probe has a long wire to it that is fed out the vent hole which would enable it to communicate with the receiver.

[ted]

There's also the Nu Temp brand, which is what I have had for several years now. Price is similar, but you can use up to three transmitters with one base station. Additional transmitters are less than buying both transmitter and base initially.

If the Maverick will let you set an upper and lower temperature alarm for one probe, that's a good thing. The Nu Temp, unless it's changed, will only let you set one alarm per probe, either a high temp one or a low temp one. When I was using mine to monitor my smoker, I had one probe for high temp, one for low temp, and one in the meat (high temp).

OK, so I said all that good stuff about the Nu Temp, but looking online and I can't find anyone who's selling them. It may be that sourcing the parts or building them has gone south in the down economy. Hopefully it's still good info to have.

[Hank Hanover]

I am considering modifying a simple dome shaped electric smoker as follows. I can get a digital thermometer/controller that would regulate the heat to .1 degrees so I could set it at 215 degrees F.

Then I want to install a "smoke pistol" (google it) to create the smoke from cartridges.

Then use a thermometer in the meat.

That should take care of everything except a very cold day and i don't smoke in the winter much anyway.