Is remote control REALLY remote?

[rwhapham]

So I set up my new EX4 to use Wi-Fi since the BT connection doesn't make it from the patio to all areas of our house. On my burn-in, I started the shutdown process from home but then had to leave. Unless I'm going crazy, I recall checking the app when I arrived where I was going and it reported that the grill was safe to turn off. So I thought that "remote" actually meant at home or away. But during a cook the other day I had to run to the store in the middle of the Smoke Boost time, which I thought was no big deal since I had my handy-dandy app. But once it was time to turn off Smoke Boost, no luck. Thankfully my daughter was at home and I walked her through turning it off manually. Reading the manual and other posts seems confusing on what Weber classifies as "remote". I guess I see it as one of 3 options:

1. Remote actually means local Wi-Fi only for monitoring and control, and not away from home
2. Remote means local Wi-Fi only for control, but anywhere for monitoring
3. Remote means monitoring and control anywhere

Does anyone know for sure what is supposed to be the case? I'm using Android app v1.0.0, and the latest grill software and juneOS updates. Thanks.

 

[dudemcnally]

Speaking strictly for the iOS app (I know there are differences between iOS and android)

If the grill is connected to home WIFI (and the home WIFI is connected to the internet) your grill will be controllable from anywhere as long as you have internet access. Mine works well

*edited to add that I haven't tested this after the last update...so maybe something has changed but I doubt it

 

[sntwilliams]

I think there may be a bug with the Android v1.0 app. I tried to initiate a shutdown from the app the other day and it just didn't do anything, I was actually in the kitchen chopping onions so I was in spitting distance of the smokefire at the time.

 

[JpsBBQ]

I’ve also noticed that if you are using say your iPad and don’t exit the app, it will limit other devices from performing changes. You can see but not “ touch” sorta. I assume that is to eliminate incidental or erroneous actions by yourself or others.

 

[rwhapham]

Only one app controlling it for me. Now that it has been mentioned, I have noticed a couple of times where even local Wi-Fi fails to change temp. I guess I'll just chalk it up to a buggy app for the time being and make sure I'm not leaving during any critical part of the cook.

 

[Dassman5]

So I set up my new EX4 to use Wi-Fi since the BT connection doesn't make it from the patio to all areas of our house. On my burn-in, I started the shutdown process from home but then had to leave. Unless I'm going crazy, I recall checking the app when I arrived where I was going and it reported that the grill was safe to turn off. So I thought that "remote" actually meant at home or away. But during a cook the other day I had to run to the store in the middle of the Smoke Boost time, which I thought was no big deal since I had my handy-dandy app. But once it was time to turn off Smoke Boost, no luck. Thankfully my daughter was at home and I walked her through turning it off manually. Reading the manual and other posts seems confusing on what Weber classifies as "remote". I guess I see it as one of 3 options:

1. Remote actually means local Wi-Fi only for monitoring and control, and not away from home
2. Remote means local Wi-Fi only for control, but anywhere for monitoring
3. Remote means monitoring and control anywhere

Does anyone know for sure what is supposed to be the case? I'm using Android app v1.0.0, and the latest grill software and juneOS updates. Thanks.

I have both an Android phone and an iPad. Two things I have learned are: (1) the iOS version on my iPad always seems to perform more reliably than the Android, and (2) you cannot have both units paired to the SF at the same time and still get reliable performance...that is, I need to “unpair” one or the other when away from the house in order for my phone to work properly.

Having said that, as long as my Android phone is connected to my home WiFi via my cellular service I am always able to monitor the grill temp...however I have never needed to change temperature or initiate a shut down.

 

[AHoneyman]

I run iOS and have always been able to monitor my grill from anywhere. I have not changed anything while I have been roaming about. I want to be there with my eyes on the product.

 

[TexB]

I have an Android phone, and I'm always able to view my Smokefire on the app while I'm away at the store or wherever. No issues adjusting temps or enabling or disabling Smokeboost from the app. The only issue I've had- a few months back on a really really long cook, the app would stop displaying temps after 18-20 hours. If I force closed the app and reopened, the temps usually would come back, but not always.

Try this before you leave the house to make sure it will work: while you are still home, turn off wifi and bluetooth on your phone, and open the app. If it works via your cell data, you're good to go because you are now accessing it remotely. If it doesn't work, then it's not going to work when you leave the house and you're going to have to mess with it some more.

If it won't work, I would try and unpair/forget your grill, and delete the wifi settings from the grill. Then start the bluetooth and wifi setup again, and make sure your router isn't too terribly far from your grill. If your router is on the opposite side of the house from your grill, you may have issues. If you are away and have poor cell reception, that will cause problems for you too.