Thermoworks Signals WiFi/Bluetooth BBQ Thermometer Review
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Signals is the latest wireless barbecue thermometer from ThermoWorks.
I’ve been using their Smoke thermometer for the last couple of years and it’s easily my favorite barbecue purchase to date.
The only downsides to the Smoke are that it can only measure two things at once, and connecting to your phone requires the additional purchase of the Gateway Bridge.
The new Signals meat thermometer promises to address both of these issues.
In this detailed Signals review, I’ll run through all the new features and help you decide if it’s worth the cost.
- WiFI/Bluetooth combo
- Connect up to four probes
- Rugged construction
- Costly
- No hand held receiver
ThermoWorks sent me a free Signals in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Signals Overview and First Impressions
The first thing you notice about the Signals is how much DNA it shares with the Smoke.
This is a good thing in my opinion. The Smoke has been the #1 rated barbecue thermometer since it was released.
The construction is very similar so you get that premium ThemoWorks build quality. The unit feels very solid in your hand and the protective casing means the Signals should survive any drops.
Check out this video review I did for the Signals thermometer.
I love that you can still use the Signals by itself. It’s so common for Bluetooth meat thermometers to cheap out on the transmitter.
Sometimes I don’t feel like using my phone to check my barbecue temperature, so it’s nice that you can still use the receiver to check all your temperatures and set high and low alarms.
In our original Signals review, we were pretty lukewarm on the app experience.
Since then, ThermoWorks have listened to customer feedback, and rebuilt the app from the ground up, adding some new features and making it all around easier to use.
Once connected, you can monitor your cooks from anywhere with an internet connection. You can also modify your alarms from your phone or view and download graphs of your cooks.
We’ll cover everything you can do in the new app later on in the review.
What we like:
- Four probe capability – The unit ships with three pro-series meat probes and one pro series ambient temperature probe. The added capacity lets you monitor two grills at once, or more meat in a single smoker.
- Built in WiFi/Bluetooth – I never liked that you had to buy a separate bridge to get WiFi connectivity on the Smoke. On the Signals this is built in, and works incredibly well. Having both WiFi and Bluetooth means you aren’t stuck with terrible Bluetooth range and connection issues.
- Improved app & cloud experience – Since the initial launch ThermoWorks have vastly improved the app and graphing features.
- Rugged construction – ThemoWorks market this as a product for professional chefs and pro barbecue teams. This shows when you look at the rugged construction which is also IP66 splash proof. The large LCD screen is really nice and easy to read even in direct sunlight. It’s also backlit so you can use it any time day or night.
What we don’t like:
- Costly – You can get other Bluetooth 4-channel meat thermometers for under $100. With the $229 price tag Signals is definitely a product for hard-core barbecue enthusiasts.
ThemoWorks have knocked it out of the park again. Few other thermometers that comes close in terms of construction and probe quality.
The only question left is, is the price tag justified?
- WiFI/Bluetooth combo
- Connect up to four probes
- Rugged construction
- Costly
- No hand held receiver
What’s in the box & manufacturer specifications
The signals comes neatly packaged in a plastic protective casing. As well as the 4-channel thermometer transmitter unit, the package contains:
- 3 x Pro-Series High Temp Cooking Probes
- 1 x Pro-Series High Temp Air Probe
- 1 x Grate Clip
- 12V USB Power Adapter
- 8 High Temp Silicone Color Probe Rings.
- 1x Instructions and cooking temps guide
My unit was fully charged so I didn’t need to worry about charging it before use. The battery life of 16 hours is a far cry short of the 1,800 hours on the Smoke.
You give up the battery life to have the WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity though.
Including 3x meat and 1x ambient temperature probes is right for most people.
But you don’t have to use it like this, if you have any other pro series probes you can configure it how you like e.g. 4x meat probes or 2x ambient 2x meat if you need to run two smokers at once.
You also get a small instruction manual that has some USDA recommended safe cooking temperatures on the back.
Signals Manufacturer Specifications:
| Product | 4-Channel Wi-Fi/Bluetooth BBQ Alarm Thermometer |
| Probe Range | 58 to 572°F (-50 to 300°C) |
| Cable Max Temp | 700°F |
| Accuracy | ±1.8°F from -4 to 248°F |
| Bluetooth Range | 95 feet line of sight |
| Water Resistance | IP66 Splash-Proof |
| Battery Life | Rechargeable, about 16 hours |
| Display Size | 1.88 H x 3.97 W inches |
Using the Signals BBQ Thermometer
Using the Signals is very straightforward.
Setting up the main unit is as easy as connecting the probes and holding the power button on the back.
The unit will automatically use Bluetooth to try and pair to any device within range, but it’s worth spending some time with just the physical unit.
The large backlit LCD screen is split into four panels. One for each probe channel.
It’s nice that you can see the temperature of each channel at once. A lot of cheap Bluetooth thermometers have a small screen that cycles through each probe.
You can also see the high and low temp alarms. You can set these on the app or on the unit directly.
You can give each probe a name (up to 4 characters) via the app.
The other buttons on the main unit let you activate the backlight and control the alarm volume.
Using the ThermoWorks app
The initial ThermoWorks app had some issues and with an average rating of just 1.7 on the App Store store, it was clear improvements had to be made.
Rather than making tweaks, ThermoWorks decided to completly rebuild the app from the ground up.
The new version is vastly improved and now has a healthy 4.7/5 on the App Store.
Going through setup was painless.
- Getting from either the Apple App store or Google Play store.
- When you open the app you’ll be asked to set up a ThermoWorks account. This is used to save your cook data and to set your profile preferences.
- Once you have logged in you’ll have the option to add a new device. So long as your Signals is powered on and within range, it should pick it up straight away.
- Next, it’ll ask you to input your home Wifi details.
This is one of the genius features of the Signals. Using your home WiFi network gives you far better range and means you don’t have to worry about Bluetooth constantly dropping off.
If the WiFi signal is lost (because your three year old decides to unplug the router, for example…) the Signals automatically falls back to using Bluetooth without you having to do anything.
This is also useful if you are using the Signals at a barbecue comp where there’s no WiFi.
Once connected, you can go do your Signals home screen where you can see all your temperature readings from each probe.
You can tap on a probe to give it a name so that it’s easy to recognize, and set high and low alarms.
I like that there’s no meat presets to choose from. You get to set exactly what temperature you want the alarm to go off at.
Inside the probe controls, you can assign the ring color, which matches the silicone rings included with the Signals.
Tapping on the “Graph” icon opens a different screen where each of your probes readings is recorded over time.
You can toggle each probe on or off, for example, if you just want to measure your smoker temp over time you can see that.
This is handy for seeing how long some meat was stalled for, or if your pit had any temperature spikes.
In the images above you can see the temperature swings on my Z Grills 700E pellet grill, while the lamb shoulder I was smoking slowly increases over time.
There are a few other useful features in the app, like the ability to see the device battery percent, toggle between °F °C and add notes about your cook.
You can record every cook as a “session” which saves all the graphs and data to the ThermoWorks Cloud.
ThermoWorks Cloud
As well as the app, all your data is accessible via a web portal. Using the account details you setup when first registering the Signals, you can login through any browser.
You can also control the Signals from the Cloud with the option to set alarms and rename probes from the web interface.
I love this feature because I can keep it open in a tab on my computer and keep an eye on my temperatures throughout the day without having to constantly reach for my phone.
The cloud interface is used to view all your previous saved sessions so if you want to see exactly what you did on a cook six months ago, you can bring it up and check your exact temp graphs and any notes you made.
You can also export the data as a CSV file, or save the graph images in PDF, PNG or JPG format.
One last killer feature for competition BBQ teams is the ability to share a live session which lets you share a link to anyone without an account.
Add automatic temperature control with Billows
You have the option of purchasing the Billows automatic temperature control fan that works with Signals to control the temperature of your charcoal or wood smoker.
The fan connects to your smoker easily and then plugs into your Signals.
You then use your Signals device or the app to set your desired pit temperature.
You’ll need to have the Signals plugged in for it to work.
We have a full Billows review if you want to learn more.
Alternative thermometers you might want to consider
The Signals doesn’t have a lot of direct competition. In terms of Bluetooth 4-channel thermometers, you’ve got the Weber iGrill 2 and the InkBird IBT-4XS.
Both of those digital meat thermometers are in a much lower price bracket.
If you’re not convinced by the Signals, the two main alternatives I would consider are the FireBoard and ThermoWorks own Smoke.
ThermoWorks Signals VS FireBoard 2 Drive
The FireBoard 2 actually offers 6 channels, 2 more than the Signals.
You can opt for the basic package which includes 1x ambient temp probe and 2x meat probes, or go for the ‘extreme bbq addition’ which includes 2 ambient probes and 6 food probes.
Like Signals you get cloud connection so you aren’t limited to Bluetooth range.
The original FireBoard had a much smaller LCD screen but the new Fire Board 2 screen is almost as good as the Signals.
App experience is good, with a few more options including the ability to send text or email alerts when your alarms are hit.
You can also set conditions on the alarm, for example only go off after a certain amount of time. This is pretty cool, I hate my alarm going off just because I opened the lid on my grill for 30 seconds.
Finally, the FireBoard 2 comes with support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and Apple Watch. This is the lazy man’s dream as you can sit back in your chair and just ask Google what your brisket temperature is at.
The bottom line:
At a similar price point, I’d lean towards the Fireboard 2 because of the improved battery life and support for 6 channels, but it’s super close. I like a more functional transmitter as I spend more time around my smoker, so being able to easily check temps and control alarms on the actual unit is nice. As is the waterproof and rugged design.
Get the latest price on the Fireboard website.
ThermoWorks Smoke VS Smoke X vs Signals
If you want to check your temperatures on your phone, there’s really no competition you should just buy the Signals.
The Smoke + Gateway Bridge will set you back $188 so you’re better off investing a tiny bit extra and getting the extra 4 channels.
If you’re not fussed about Bluetooth/WiFi connectivity and don’t need to measure more than 2 things at once, I’d probably stick with the Smoke.
I’m still very fond of the small wireless receiver that comes with the Smoke. The 300ft range smashes any Bluetooth connection, and I liked having it not on my phone so I didn’t have to worry about dropping it.
If you don’t want WiFi or an App, but you still want four channels then your best bet is to go with the new Smoke X4. This gives you insane range, more probes and a few other improvements over the original smoke.
Should you buy the Signals?
Hopefully, this review has helped answer any questions you have about the Signals.
With its excellent build quality and intuitive design, the Signals ticks a lot of boxes for me.
If you like to compete in barbecue competitions, or just like to invest in your tools, the Signals will definitely pay off.
It’s a shame the app doesn’t quite compare with some of the competitor apps. But it gets the basics right.
If money isn’t an issue, I would still recommend the Signals even if you never plan on using the app.
Always buy ThermoWorks products directly from their website to ensure you get the best pricing and warranty.
- WiFI/Bluetooth combo
- Connect up to four probes
- Rugged construction
- Costly
- No hand held receiver
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This looks really cool, much better than my current system.
My old temp sensing equipment could never keep up with that beauty. Been BBQing for a long time, just having purchased a fancy new grill that unit would be icing on the cake…….er, GRILL!
I need something like this in my life!
great review
I really need this i need the best tools to learn with
As an avid smoker/griller I am always looking for things that take my smokes to the next level. There is no more dependable temperature measure, in my opinion, than those made by Thermoworks.
Great review
Great review I am interested
Great review, extremely helpful for the smoker.
This looks alot better than my current thermometer. May have to try iy
Nice review
Way, way nicer than the wireless thermometer that I’ve got which I’ve long since lost confidence in.
Great review. Detailed and appears honest ie: not a sales pitch.
I enjoy the recipes from the app as well.
Nice probe design and display layout. Wifi much better than running outside throughout the night to check temp on long smoke sessions.
WiFi should be a big plus!
This will be a great tool for smoking.
I have the Smoke with the gateway, and wish I would have waited…great product, and I would agree that the app is just so/so..though I do like that I can check temps from anywhere I have data on my phone.
I like the idea of multi-temp observation. This looks awesome
I love my Smoke, but the additional probes with Signals make it very attractive.
Yes. I have a ton of Thermo works gear and it’s all very good.
Thermopop, Chef Alarm, Timestick, ThermoQ. I give Thermopops as gifts all the time. Still need a Thermopop Mk IV. And this etc. etc.
Edit: Thermapen Mk IV
Thank you for your review. I am newer to smoking but always want to serve good quality one of these would just take it to the next level.
Looks like a great system but is too pricey for me.
Thumbs up!
Awesome review. You were very detailed and it helps us buyers. Your review has helped me decide my boyfriend would love this and it would be very helpful. Well maybe I’ll win one so I don’t have to buy it. Fingers crossed.
I would love to try this device
Already doing well with an instant read thermometer but would love the confidence of not having to open the lid too many times
Another quality tool from ThermoWorks.
Liking where the thermometer tech is heading, but the prices will need to come down a little to pull me in to this level.
I love the idea of four probes and remote capabilities. I’m new to smoking and this would make monitoring easier.
This is perfect. I do allot of smoking different meats and this would be a life savor.
Great review. Sounds like something I would live to have!
I made my own smoker which works well but I don’t have any way of telling the temperature other than a little bbq gauge on the top of it. A nice digital gauge would be awesome.
I am using the standard probe that came with my Traeger grill but this would be a great addition.
Love my Smoke. I’m sure the signal will make it even easier to keep track of my smokes
Just about the best temp reader devices on the market at reasonable price too
Loved the review, very informative and makes me want to go out and purchase one or perhaps win one for my upcoming birthday.
I LOVE technology. Great product. Great review.
Signals looks like a nice upgrade from the Smoke.
Great review can’t wait to try it
Nice looking device. Great review love the the details
Love to own one!
Love all the thermoworks products. I use them at home and for work
GREAT REVIEW
I have two pieces of ThermoWorks equipment and both are absolutely bulletproof and critical elements of running a smoker for culinary perfection.
Looks like a great next step up from Smoke.
Love Thermoworks and this product named signals has really turned up the heat against all other BBQ thermometers.
Looks like a great way to keep track of what you are doing.
4 probes is very useful.
This is a product that I could really use – I check the temperature obsessively, even on the Egg. I’ve tried earlier products and their weaknesses outweighed the benefits. Signals sounds like it’s in a league way beyond those earlier products.
I want to know when my meat is thoroughly cooked! Also for food safety over the bbq/picnic season.
That’s a really nice setup! Well it’s definitely better than pen thermometer and the gauge on the grill lid and sure I would be honored put it good use!
This would be amazing for smoking!
Looks like a great tool. Would like to try it.
Appears to be a great unit for using with my twin smokers. Looks nice and simple to use.
I’m new to BBQ and cooking in general, so this thermometer would really help me in determining when meat has been safely cooked.
This thermometer sounds amazing. Currently I don’t even use one (sacrilege, I know) so this would be a great addition to my smoking addiction.
A good gift for my brother.
Would love this for BBQ’ing!
I want to win this because I am just learning to barbecue and this would be a big help!
I would love Tom win this for my husband. HE bbqs everything and needs a great thermometer
Would love to try this!
I would love this so I could a perfect reading on my meats on the grill
I’d love to win because this would be so helpful for bbqing!
I’ve always wanted one of these!
I am an amateur BBQ. I could use this to make sure my meats are cooked to perfection. I have a tendency to overcook. This would stop that.
I want to win this because meat is too expensive not to be done right. Plus, I get super nervous eating meat that if underdone could make me sick. Don’t tell him that I said so but I don’t trust my husband’s, squeeze the meat to see if it’s done, method!
I cook dinner on my pellet grill 3-4 nights a week. Smoking meat is a waste of time if you miss that temperature sweet spot. It would be nice to monitor inside while doing other things.
My husband would love this
This would be great
This would make BBQ so easy.
Really Cool Product For summer BBQ
Would be nice to win this as we BBQ almost every day in the summer! Thanks for the chance!
Seeing as I still cut my meat to check if it’s done, this is very helpful!
It would be a wonderful addition for our bbq-night. Good review!
this will help me get my internal temps just right!
I would like to win because this would be the perfect tool to making perfect food wirelessly.
love to win for my husband , he is an avid smoker/griller! He would love to use this!
i cook a lot of briskets and to be just right when cooking you need a good thermometer i would love to win so i can be just perfect on cooking
I would love to win to make my bbq’ing so much easier and then I don’t have to guess if it is done.
Sounds awesome
Great review. This would be an amazing add to anybody’s setup. Thanks.
I’ve been using the Thermoworks Smoke for a couple of years, and am very happy with it. I expect their Signals model would work just as well!
I want to win because I love everything on the grill. Could really use it. Thank You
I don’t have a remote thermometer
Would totally love to have!
Looks like a great product that I need!!!
I love to BBQ – especially roasts – so this awesome meat thermometer would ensure I don’t overcook my meat while entertaining my guests, which is generally my main problem.
I would like to win because my husband loves gadgets!
This looks amazing
Looking forward to supplementing retirement income. Sausage and big pork on the menu.
I’ve never use one before and need to try new things when cooking
I love grilling out and having this would really help me grill the meat perfect..
Been wanting something like this for awhile.
This Wi-Fi/Bluetooth BBQ Alarm Thermometer is far above what I currently use. Would love to give it a try. I like reading actual reviews that list the good and the bad. Your review was very helpful
Great review. Thermoworks products have never disappointed me.
I primarily do all my cooking on the grill during the summer so this would help me to ensure the meat is cooked safely for my family.
This would be a perfect gift for my husband, AKA the Grillmaster. He grills multiple meats at a time so the capacity of this thermometer would be fabulous.
Would love to be more accurate with my egg cooker!
As the cook and best griller I know, I have been wanting something like this for well over a year!
I am very excited to get to use this baby. This will be one step closer to the perfect brisket!
Does your account on Thermoworks site keep records of your cooks the way the Fireboard does?
It stores your 10 most recent cooks.
Love it !!
I am Thermoworks fan myself and own several temp and timer products including Smoke which has been awesome to use. Have you had a chance to use and review the Billows control fan that works with the Signal unit?
Hey Fred,
I’ve actually got a Billows sitting on my desk. I’m just waiting for a good day to review it. Stay tuned!