FireBoard 2 Drive Review - Why You Need a FireBoard 2 Drive

If you like to smoke meat in a Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe or other smoker, watch this video. A temperature controller, like the FireBoard 2 Drive, makes the job much easier. This video a is a review of the FireBoard 2 Drive. I talk about what I like and what I don't. I also talk about why and selected this particular controller and how I cook with it.
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[@jamieturner4637]

Excellent video. Helped me decide what to buy. Can’t wait to cook a brisket with it. Thanks

[@AustinEats]

Glad you liked it. Please let me know what you think.
Dave

[@emmgeevideo]

I suggest a simple fade transition vs. the fade to black transition. Kind of drove me crazy...

[@RyanPratt1]

Jump cuts

[@brianbaker3400]

I lovvvvve my original fireboard. Extreme quality and service. I had some bugs couple years in sent it in, and they fixed it right up. This is some of the top quality in the industry for cooking temps. Mine is 5 years old

[@AustinEats]

That is awesome!
Dave

[@martinjones7441]

Excellent review thank you. I will be purchasing soon. With extra probes!

[@AustinEats]

I'm glad that you found it helpful. Let me know what you think about the Fireboard.
Dave

[@AustinEats]

Did you end up purchasing the FireBoard? If so, what do you think?

[@martinjones7441]

I have. Used it just twice. I get the feeling you need to setup and get the kamado to a stable temp before relying on it. Temp went a little high at the beginning. Just starting out with this and kamado so on a learning curve. Thanks for asking

[@brianhusk4593]

Thanks for this review. Just had a guru die and found the FireBoard. Purchased a drive unit.

[@AustinEats]

Brian,
I'm glad you found my review helpful. Let me know how you like it.
Dave

[@brianhusk4593]

@@AustinEats I've done two cooks with it so far. I probably need to learn more about it, but so far think the Guru had a better fan control algorithm, but the hardware seems better on the FireBoard. I have a big steel keg which is ultra efficient, so have had to turn down max fan speed, increased lid detection, and lower set point a bit to compensate. Overall I'm pleased with it so far.

[@itube305]

Excellent video

[@AustinEats]

Thanks, much appreciated. If you end up buying a Fireboard, let me know what you think.
Dave

[@kryingametc7018]

I rarely comment but that was an excellent, non biased video.

[@AustinEats]

Glad you like it.

[@HawkingsCt]

Can you add enough fuel at the beginning and just forget about it until the meat is done or do you have to add more every now and then? If the latter, does the Fireboard help you by telling you when to add more fuel?

[@bw935]

Smoking Dad BBQ had a komado big joe 3 run 50 hrs on a full basket of charcoal. I did a 17 hr cook on a pork butt and never had to add any. I was running 225-230 ish degrees. I also didn’t use a fan either and it was pretty easy. I have a big joe 3. Happy grilling!!

[@AustinEats]

I have the Classic Joe III and can easily run 22+ hours at 225˚F without adding charcoal. The FIreboard will indirectly tell you that you are running out of charcoal. If you set an internal temperature of 225˚F and a low alarm of 210˚F, the Fireboard alarm will alert you as the temperature starts to fall.

[@DonaldFitzgerald-oe2pi]

What position do you keep top vent.

[@AustinEats]

Keep the top vent completely closed on both a Kamado Joe and a Big Green Egg. The fan is powerful enough to push air through the vent when closed. If you don't, the temperature will creep up above whatever you set in the FireBoard. Hope that helps.
Dave

[@aerodator1]

Thanks for sharing! Purchased it 😁

[@AustinEats]

Let me know how you like it. What kind of BBQ are you using it in?

[@czwest7845]

Thank you for this great video! What setting on top vent when you use the fireBoard 2?

[@AustinEats]

I open it about 1/4", that's it. Any more than that the fire gets too hot. When I used a Big Green Egg, I had to keep the top completely closed.

[@farsane118]

Great sharing 👍

[@AustinEats]

Glad you like it!

[@crashcopter6000]

Thank you for the video! After a year, any issues?

[@AustinEats]

Only one. I got the USB charging cable stuck in a drawer slide and it separated from the cable. $5 on Amazon fixed it. Other than that, it works great. No issues at all. I use it at least once a week.
Dave

[@beam6981]

Thanks for the video! Have you used the Thermoworks Billows fan? If so, how was your experience?

[@crashcopter6000]

I use Billows fans on my gravity fed smoker. Search RUclips for "crashcopter char-griller 980 with dual billows fans." It works great, but the "pulse mode" is a challenge. I'm switching to the Fireboard 2 Drive for a couple reasons. First, I want to be able to pre program temperature changes on long cooks. Second, I want to use the 980 stock fan. I can't do either of those with my current setup. In truth, I just want to try it.

[@beam6981]

@@crashcopter6000 Pulse mode...? I am not familiar with that mode. My Billows fan has all of a sudden stopped working...not happy about that. I have a Fire Board 2 Drive on order and looking forward to receiving it.

[@crashcopter6000]

@@beam6981 I hope it turns out great! I'd love to hear your results

[@AustinEats]

I own it but was not able to get it to work. I was trying to hook it up to a Yoder smoker but there is just no easy way to do that.

[@booyahhh4642]

Do you need to buy the drive blower with it?

[@AustinEats]

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you only want to monitor the temperature inside your BBQ and the internal temperature of whatever you are cooking, then no, you do not need the blower. But if that is all you want to do, there are less expensive ways to accomplish that. However, if you want the Fireboard to control the temperature inside your BBQ, not just monitor it, then you need the fan. The Fireboard senses when the temperature begins to fall and will turn on the fan, maybe 20%, until the temperature stabilizes again. It's basically a mini computer running your BBQ. In my experience, the Fireboard is dead on accurate. I often use it with a Kamado Joe that I fill with charcoal and set to 225˚F for 12 hours (for something like a brisket). I will set it up at 11:00 PM, then go to bed and not worry about it. My phone will tell me if there is a problem and there never has been with the Fireboard. I will also tell you that I previously owned a competitors version of the Fireboard and it woke me up every 30 minutes all night long. I hope that helps.
Dave

[@richdivision4060]

⁠@@AustinEatswhat was the competitor you were using?

[@AustinEats]

@@richdivision4060 That last "decent" one that I tried was made by DigiQ. I still think that the Fireboard 2 Drive is a better product.

[@The7thSonSteve-O]

Another nice one

[@AustinEats]

Thanks again!

[@bartstop]

3-2-1 on baby backs. Hmmmm.