Maverick ET-7 Remote-Check Wireless Thermometer With 2 Probes
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Maverick ET-7 Remote-Check Wireless Thermometer With 2 Probes
Customer Review: Let's talk about probe failures
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's all calm down about probes failing, etc and think this through. I have had a Maverick wireless unit for about 2.5 years (the previous model). During this time I have used it probably 50 times (yes I grill a lot) and the unit has never failed me other than the need to replace batteries (two times when I left the unit on for days after use). On to the probes - I thought it was understood (read some of the other reviews and you'll see this same advice) that the probes are NOT water proof. So if you use a probe and throw it in the dish washer or drop it in the sink to clean it, it might work a couple of times. Maybe, but I doubt it. As I understand it (and it makes all the sense in the world) if water is allowed to run down between the wire and the probe itself, the unit will fail and you will be buying another probe - if you don't throw the damned thing out in frustration. Subsequent probes will fail also, not due to anything other than the water intrusion problem. Read the one star reviews about probe failure and most of them sound similar - it worked a couple of times and then the readings were very inacurate. First question would be - did water get between the wires and the probes? I'm sure there are a number of ways to avoid this problem but in my case when I'm done with a cook I wipe the probe down with a disinfectant wipe (lysol kitchen wipes, whatever) and that's it - I'm ready to go. No water used, but very clean. Do not put the probe under running water or immerse it in water and don't orient it such that rain water is allowed to run down the wires into the probe and chances are it will last for a very long time, as mine has. Hopefully reading this review will save some purchasers a lot of frustration. Good luck.Customer Review: THE best wireless transmitter for the money
Summary: 3 Stars
This transmitter works flawlessly. The dual-probes let you track two meats - or if you are like me and like to cook things at low (200-250 degree) temperatures it is invaluable to free you from having to sit next to the grill the whole time.
You can set your own custom temperature you want it to alert you at - if none of the presets work (in my case I just set one of them up to beep if it goes above 275 - so I know it is getting too hot...)
Unlike other wireless transmitters - this one is rated up to 500 degrees... and if it gets out of range it will display "HHH" instead of just frying itself like other brands probes. If a probe should ever go bad - Maverick will replace it for free (instructions in the box tell you where to mail it to)
The only reason this thermometer doesn't get 5 stars is because the interface is not completely intuitive... You really do have to read the manual to figure out how to do basic things like reset the countdown timer, or set the clock. The other thing keeping it from being a 5-star unit is the lack of setting a "temperature floor" that you want it to beep if it gets "below" which would be useful for when I'm using it as a gril thermometer.
The few drawbacks aside: this is an excellent unit that works wonderfully well. Heck - it even comes with batteries! Buy it today and you wont regret it.
UPDATE: 2010 -
This thing died on me after about a year of using it. For most things now I use a thermapen, and for wireless stuff I use a stoker connected to wifi - so I haven't missed this very much.
I would no longer recommend this unless you are looking for a cheap thermometer that might not last that long.
Customer Review: Works OK, but needs a redesign
Summary: 3 Stars
I've used the Maverick ET-7 for about 6 months and it works OK as long as there is no wall between the transmitter and receiver. For general use, the base is never more than 25' from the transmitter.
But, this thing is somewhat quirky. Obviously, the on/off/standby buttons were designed for those with tiny "Lilliputian" fingers and extremely good eyesight.
Once the main unit is turned on, the transmitter has to be switched on within a minute or everything has to be restarted.
And then you have to select the correct meat from the menu (what to do if you're cooking two different meats is a mystery) and adjust everything, including the clock.
If you decide to change "meat" settings, everything else you've entered will be lost and you have to start again.
Forget trying to set the clock - what a waste of time! Whoever designed the electronics forgot to ensure that the clock would stay on when the rest of the unit is shut off. Gee, every time I use the ET-7 it's noon.
It would be a great idea to include a low temperature alarm in this product, because that's one of the main concerns in BBQ'n.
I have used this on my WSM as well as in the oven and it's worked very well.
I checked the accuracy with a digital instant read thermometer and the probe temps were within 1 degree of the instant read.
I'm concerned about the probe cable connection because on one probe the braided cable connection didn't seem to be properly swaged at the factory and there are sharp strands of wire sticking out where they connect. I've also been very careful NOT to immerse the probes while cleaning them.
For the price, the ET-7 meets my needs for now.
Customer Review: Good, but lots of room for improvement
Summary: 3 Stars
Overall, I'm luke warm on this item. I purchased it off Amazon since it was the highest rated wireless thermometer. It certainly works well but there is a lot of room for improvement. After one 12-hour smoker run, here are my initial thoughts:
Pros:
*Multiple probes
*Easy to read display
*Long cords (approx 4') for convenience
*Decent range (could go almost anywhere in the house within 10 yards or line of sight)
Cons:
*Inconsistent signal - would sporadically lose/find the signal.
*No alert tone when signal is dropped.
*No low temperature alert.
*No backlight on display.
*Could make keys more intuitive.
*No room to add/purchase additional probes
My biggest complaints are the lack of alert tone when signal is dropped, and lack of low temperature alert and here's why; After firing up my smoker at 5am I wanted to get some shuteye. I took the wireless receiver into the living room where it still received signal (almost line of site, 10 yards away from smoker). It received a signal for 10 minutes or so and eventually I felt comfortable and fell asleep. I woke up an hour or so later and, at some point, the unit had lost the signal and failed to make any audible noise. Without this feature, or the low temp feature, it really requires you to monitor it manually. It would ad so much value for these two, simple software updates.
This was my first wireless grill thermometer but it seems pretty straight forward. I'd probably recommend to a friend but would search for a few alternatives as well.
Customer Review: Usability & feature limited - insane beeping
Summary: 2 Stars
Cool features: dual probe sensor, wireless remote display and temperature alert, nifty stand thing so you can look at it standing up, a clock, two timers, short directions.
This item has 2 probes, thats great but it assumes that both are for meat, if you want to use one for the temperature of the grill/smoker its not the best choice.
Alarm, you can not turn off the audible alarm (not that I found anyway). Because I want to use one probe for my smoker and you can only select meat, you will hear it go off over and over and over and over again.
Meat temperature adjustments, the max temperature for the meat is fixed, you can lower the temperature but not raise it. For example if you want to measure pork at 180 degrees, you can't! So the indoor units beep goes off over and over and over and over again until you want to introduce to one of your heavier hand tools.
Outdoor probe not supposed to be used in the rain... hmmm thats gonna take some planning when you grill/smoke anywhere where there is precipitation.
The directions are very brief (which I usually like, but frustration led me to actually read them - unimpressive). It takes some monkeying with the unit to figure out how to set the meat types and temperatures (within limits as described above).
If you get it, put the indoor unit on "standby" so that you keep your sanity and check it periodically, unless you are cooking to the fixed temperature range that the Maverick folks have decided for you.