The Stoker

The Competitor

If we had a nickel for every time someone asked us to recommend either The Stoker or The Competitor, we'd be lying on the beach in Bermuda rather than sitting here typing this web page! But we digress.... Our answer to the question about which one is best is basically this: The Competitor is easier to use, but the Stoker is expandible. They each have some functions that the other doesn't. They both work very very well at controlling the temperature of your cooker, so you need to look at the features and functions they have and then decide what you want and/or need. So, we have provided the following comparison of features to help you make your decision:

	The Stoker	BBQ Guru Competitor
Pit Temp Range	100 - 450 F	175 - 400 F
Food Temp Range	?	105 - 210 F
Temperature Display	2x12 LCD Display	LED Graph Display
Display Backlight	Yes, via button	n/a
Scrolling Temperature Display	Yes	n/a
Temperature Units	F or C	F
Data Input Method	Keypad and 2x12 display	Two dials, one for pit temperature, one for food temperature
User Upgradeable Software	Yes	No
Blower capacity	5 CFM	4, 10 and 25 CFM (note 2)
Damper	Self regulating: open when blowing, closed when not	Manual
Adapters	Available for many popular cookers	Available for many popular cookers
Adapter connection	Bolted to blower. Fan must be removed after cook.	Blower presses into tube on adapter. Blower can be removed, adapter can be left attached to cooker and closed with provided kill plug.
System unit/blower connection	No	Yes, system unit can be attached to hook on blower.
Blower on indication	Yes, on display	Yes, LED on front panel
Audible alarm	Yes	Yes
Configurable High/Low Alarms	Yes, for food and pit probes	No, preset at the factory
Alarm disable	Yes, you must disable each alarm individually through the menu	Yes, Good Neighbor Feature disables all alarms
Audible blower alarm	No	Yes
Temperature sensors	Stainless steel, teflon coated wires	Stainless steel, teflon coated wires
Number of temperature sensors	In theory, unlimited (note 6)	2
Probes separate	Yes, pit and food are separate plugs	No, pit and food are wired into single plug
Probe accuracy (note 4)	< 4 degrees	< 2 degrees
High temperature probe	Yes, to 1000 degrees, stainless steel cable	No
Pit Temp Accuracy Low (note 5)	+ < 1 degree	+ 11 degrees
Pit Temp Accuracy Med	+ < 1 degree	- 2 degrees
Pit Temp Accuracy High	+ < 2 degrees	- 4 degrees
Pit Temp Swing Low (note 5)	± 1 degree	± 1 degree
Pit Temp Swing Med	± 2 degrees	± <1 degree
Pit Temp Swing High	± 4 degrees	± <1 degree
Countdown Timer	No	No
Clock	Yes, set manually or automatically if connected to Internet	No
Countdown Timer	No	No
Power interruption recovery	Yes	Yes, but Ramp Mode will be enabled if off, Good Neighbor feature will be disabled if on
Ramp Mode	No	Yes
Low temperature smoking	Yes, will control down to 100 degrees.	Yes, with variation of Ramp Mode, down to 105 degrees.
Multiple cooker operation	Yes	No
Cookers supported	In theory, unlimited (note 6)	n/a
Internet connection	Yes	No
Control via web page	Yes	No
Wireless control	Yes (note 3)	No
Power supply	5 volt mini brick	12 volt brick
Cigarette lighter	Yes, w/ $35 12-volt adapter	Yes, w/ $12 plug
Stand	Yes	Optional $8 accessory
Our Review	The Stoker Review	Competitor Review
Website	www.rocksbarbque.com	www.thebbqguru.com
Price (note 1)	$235	$221

Notes: The price we have listed is as of January, 2007 and based upon what we consider to be a "standard" system. In the case of The Competitor, this includes a BGE large door adapter, 4-foot probe wires, and a 10 CFM blower. For The Stoker, this includes a 5 CFM blower, food and pit sensors, and a BGE large flat adapter. 4 and 10 CFM blowers are adequate for ceramic cookers, 25 CFM available for larger metal cookers. To have wireless control, you must purchase some sort of network bridge or wireless gaming adapter. This then has to be configured into your existing wireless network. (There may be other options for accomplishing this, but these are the two we have seen mentioned.) Temperature probe accuracy was measured by placing multiple probes in boiling water. Value indicated is the difference between the lowest-reading probe we tested and the highest-reading probe. Pit temperature swing was determined by observing the low and high temperatures recorded as the device controlled the temperature of the pit, once stability had been reached. The pit temperature accuracy value is the difference between the target temperature set on the device and the average of the high and low temperatures recorded once stability was reached. These readings were done three times (Low, Medium, High) at the low, middle, and high ends of the devices control temperature range. The Stoker system unit allows direct connection of up to 5 temperature probes and/or blowers. More devices can be attached with optional 3-port expanders ($23 each) and 20-port expanders ($110 each).